JAKE SHEAD AND SHOCKING CRIMES IN BARRY

The town of Barry was shaken by a series of alarming incidents involving Jake Shead, a 26-year-old man whose reckless actions caused significant distress and danger to local residents. The events began on the evening of April 29 last year, when a woman witnessed Shead loitering suspiciously near her neighbor’s property around 9:30 pm. She saw him leaning against a door before eventually knocking. When she opened her door to investigate, she was confronted directly by Shead, who responded to her query about whether he had knocked her door with a dismissive, vulgar remark.

Frightened by his presence, the woman quickly closed her door but was subjected to continued knocking for another five minutes. Concerned for her safety and her young daughter, she retreated to her daughter’s bedroom, opened the window, and attempted to speak to Shead from there, instructing him to move away. Despite her efforts, the knocking persisted, and upon returning to the window, she was horrified to see that the front door had been set ablaze. Panicking, she immediately called the fire brigade for assistance. Meanwhile, her partner was quick to respond by throwing a vase of water onto a wreath on the door, successfully extinguishing the flames before the fire could spread further and threaten the entire house.

According to prosecutor Bethan Evan, police arriving at the scene found Shead shouting abusive language at the emergency services, telling them to “F*** off.” He was subsequently detained by officers. An examination of the fire confirmed that, had it not been extinguished, the blaze might have caused extensive damage or even posed a risk to the occupants’ lives. The victim's statement expressed the profound impact the incident had on her and her family, describing feelings of terror for her safety and her child's. She also revealed that her front door was damaged during the attack and remains unreplaced, serving as a grim reminder of the event.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Shead was already on bail at the time these offenses occurred. Earlier, he had been convicted of two separate sexual assault charges stemming from an August 28, 2021, incident on Holton Road, Barry. In that case, Shead, who was intoxicated, grabbed a 16-year-old girl, attempting to hug and kiss her randomly. When another woman confronted him about his behavior, he allegedly assaulted her by grabbing her between the legs over her clothing. Despite denying these accusations, Shead was found guilty after a trial.

In the current proceedings, Shead pleaded guilty to arson recklessly endangering life and was recognized as a dangerous individual with a criminal reputation that included 18 previous convictions. These prior convictions involved drug-related offenses, driving offenses, racially aggravated criminal damage, battery, assault causing actual bodily harm, and wounding. A victim impact statement from the 16-year-old girl expressed fear about encountering Shead again, stating, “This has made me feel a lot more scared when out in public and I have to have someone with me in case I see him again… I felt frightened and I know what he's capable of doing. He is scary and dangerous and I am afraid if I bump into him again something bad will happen.”

The second victim, who was assaulted during Shead’s earlier sexual offense, shared her own feelings of increased anxiety and violation, describing him as a person with a “bad reputation for not caring about anyone,” having been banned from most pubs and known for his violent and reckless behavior. Her statement underscored the lasting impact these crimes had on her sense of safety in public.

The court was informed that Shead’s criminal history is extensive, with numerous convictions involving drugs, assault, and racially motivated damage. Defense solicitor Kevin Seal argued that Shead was intoxicated during both sets of offenses and claimed he was unaware of his actions at the time.

Ultimately, Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Jake Shead to a three-year prison term. Additionally, he was ordered to comply with sex offender registration requirements for the next ten years, reflecting the seriousness with which the court regarded his misconduct and the threat he poses to the community.