Cardiff, Wales – A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for a brutal assault on a retired detective that left her with severe injuries, including a brain hemorrhage. Joni Hartson, the son of renowned former footballer and TV analyst John Hartson, was convicted for attacking Dawn Lloyd, a 67-year-old former police officer and royal protection agent, within the confines of a hospital’s mental health ward.
During the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that after the assault, Hartson expressed a chilling regret that he had not killed his victim. The court was told that the attack, which involved 33 punches, was both premeditated and targeted, exploiting Lloyd’s vulnerability due to her age and health condition.
The incident took place on October 18, 2024, when both Hartson and Lloyd were patients at Bryngofal Ward in Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. The court heard how Hartson lured Lloyd into the hospital’s garden, where he launched the unprovoked attack. According to the prosecution, Lloyd did little to retaliate beyond attempting to shield herself with her arms.
Details emerged that Hartson, diagnosed with autism, was undergoing treatment for suicidal ideation but was not under a psychiatric hold at the time of the attack. Prosecutors mentioned that Hartson’s attack was fueled by a spontaneous burst of anger, and he later admitted to deliberately picking Lloyd as a target due to her perceived inability to defend herself.
Dawn Lloyd, who had previously served in law enforcement for 17 years in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, had been working in roles requiring high responsibility, including assignments with the royal protection team. At the time of the attack, she suffered from confusion caused by an autoimmune disorder, which had led to her admission to the mental health facility.
The attack has had a profound psychological impact on Lloyd, now plagued by severe anxiety, fear of loud sounds, and other traumatic stress symptoms. Statements in court described a noticeable change in her behavior, highlighting a now constant fear communicated in her repeated words, “He’s not going to hit me again.”
Adding to Hartson’s legal troubles, he was also convicted for assaulting a healthcare worker shortly after the incident with Lloyd. This altercation occurred after his transfer to another hospital in Carmarthen where he punched a staff member.
In Hartson’s defense, his lawyer attributed his actions to acute depression and suicidal thoughts at the time, mentioning that he might have been experiencing commanding hallucinations, although Hartson has not been diagnosed with psychosis. Despite these factors, Hartson pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and assault of an emergency worker.
The judge, Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, underscored the calculated nature of the attack in her remarks, noting Hartson’s exploitation of Lloyd’s vulnerabilities to facilitate his violent act. The sentence aims to address both the severity of the crime and the broader implications of using a person’s weaknesses against them. This case has stirred discussions on hospital security, mental health treatment adequacy, and the protection of vulnerable individuals in medical facilities.