Planned Assault on Ex-Boyfriend Filmed by Woman
A woman deliberately lured her ex-boyfriend into a trap and recorded as he was violently attacked by friends while inside his car, a court was told.
Summer Marl-Brock, 21, contacted her former partner Benjamin Edwards, 24, requesting assistance. Upon his arrival, Edwards was subjected to a "truly brutal assault" that had been orchestrated alongside her cousin David Brock and another man, Aaron Evans.
During the attack, Edwards was punched, kicked, and bitten on the face. All three defendants admitted to wounding with intent and received custodial sentences.
Details of the Incident
On the evening of the assault, Marl-Brock reached out to Edwards, informing him she had been drinking and was alone. Concerned for her safety, Edwards agreed to meet her halfway at shops in Ewloe.
"Unknown to Mr Edwards, Summer Marl-Brock was with David Brock and Aaron Evans,"said prosecutor Jemma Gordon,
"they were lying in wait."
Edwards was attacked through the driver’s side door by Brock, who punched, kicked, and bit him on the face, while Evans assaulted him through the passenger door.
Edwards sustained haemorrhaging in his eyes, bruising and swelling to his face and head, a minor fracture to part of his jaw, bite marks, and a wound to his ear.
In an attempt to escape, Edwards crashed his car but eventually managed to flee the scene, after which the police were notified.
Laughter was audible as Marl-Brock filmed the prolonged assault until she deemed Edwards sufficiently injured. She was later heard instructing Brock to stop as the situation escalated beyond control, according to Judge Simon Mills.
Victim Impact Statement
In a personal statement, Edwards described difficulties sleeping, experiencing nightmares, and challenges in social interactions. He reported panic attacks and scarring that serve as a constant reminder of the attack.
Background and Motive
Gordon explained that Edwards and Marl-Brock had been in a relationship for 12 months, during which both parties had accused each other of violence.
Marl-Brock had been sharing information with others, which acted as "the catalyst" for the subsequent attack.
Brock sent Edwards a message stating,
"who do you think you are hitting my cousin Summer?"Edwards attempted to calm Brock, but Brock responded with another threatening message.
Admissions and Criminal Histories
Brock, 38, from High Street, Mold, admitted wounding with intent. Evans, 34, from Holway, Holywell, and Marl-Brock, from Hall Street, Rhos, Wrexham, later admitted the same charge.
The court heard Brock had 14 convictions for 29 offences, including assault, driving offences, malicious communication, a public order offence, and possession of an offensive weapon. Judge Mills described this attack as a "distinct escalation" in Brock’s violent behaviour.
Aaron Evans had 31 convictions for 54 offences, encompassing assault, shoplifting, possession with intent to supply drugs, drunk and disorderly conduct, battery, driving offences, racially aggravated assault, and assaulting an emergency worker.
Marl-Brock had one prior conviction for a driving offence.
Defence Statements
Maria Masselis, defending Evans, stated he was intoxicated during the incident. The court was informed that Evans is married and together with his wife has 11 children who would be left without their father if he were imprisoned. Additionally, his wife has a medical condition. Evans has experienced mental health challenges and has expressed a "motivation" to desist from offending.
Deborah White, representing Brock, noted that he suffers from mental health issues, has been diagnosed with a personality disorder, and is alcohol dependent. Brock endured a difficult childhood and lost both parents at a young age.
Andrew Jebb, defending Marl-Brock, said she has suffered from anxiety, depression, bulimia, and anorexia. Recently, she experienced a stroke requiring hospital care and has been diagnosed with a hole in the heart that requires surgical repair.
Sentencing and Judge’s Remarks
Judge Mills stated,
"You all played your individual parts in a truly brutal assault."
The judge described the video recorded by Marl-Brock as a "truly shocking piece of evidence."
"The biting is a particularly chilling feature of this case,"he said, noting that Edwards was given no opportunity to defend himself, being effectively "trapped" inside his car.
Evans was sentenced to six years and three months in prison, Brock received seven years and two months, and Marl-Brock was sentenced to 54 months.
All three were issued a 15-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.
