A MAN from Anglesey who stabbed an ex-soldier in a “revenge” attack has lost an appeal against his prison sentence.

James Rees left John Christopher Griffiths with “life-threatening” injuries following the incident in Holyhead on January 7, 2022.

Rees, 20, of Lon Isallt, Trearddur Bay, was jailed for nine years last December, having been convicted after trial of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and of possession of an offensive weapon in public.

Today (November 14), at the Court of Appeal (sitting at Swansea Crown Court), Rees’ appeal against his sentence was dismissed.

The court heard that, on January 2, 2022, Rees saw Mr Griffiths, who he had known since school, with his ex-partner, leaving him “upset” and “angry”.

He subsequently fought with Mr Griffiths, who “got the better” of Rees.

On January 6, Rees sent Mr Griffiths numerous “aggressive” messages indicating that he wanted to fight him again, and then saw him outside a fire station with friends at 7pm the following day.

Rees approached Mr Griffiths, before walking down an alleyway with him, where they discussed his ex-partner.

They shook hands and Mr Griffiths walked away, but as he did so, Rees started talking about his ex-partner again, and asked him to shake his hand once more.

Then, while holding on to Mr Griffiths’ hand, Rees stabbed him in the stomach, causing a wound of 1-2cm in length to his abdomen, and leaving him in a “critical condition” and needing emergency surgery.

Rees was subsequently arrested, and a kitchen knife was recovered from underneath some cushions outside his bedroom.

Mr Griffiths, meanwhile, took months to recover from his injuries, and had to give up his job in the military.

Simon Mintz, representing Rees, asked the court to consider reducing his client’s sentence, in part due to his youth.

This offence took place three days before Rees’ 18th birthday, while his pre-sentence report found that his “immaturity has impacted on his behaviour”.

Rees was said to have been involved with involved with psychiatric, mental health or substance misuse service since the age of 12 – which, Mr Mintz said, “must have had an impact on his maturity”.

Mr Mintz also highlighted the 15-month delay, “for some explicable reason”, before Rees was eventually charged.

“That could have been avoided, in the interest of a young man who was 18 at the time and, even now, is only 20,” he added.

Despite this, Mrs Justice Nerys Jefford, sitting alongside Mrs Justice Mary Stacey and Lord Justice Stephen Males, told Rees his appeal would not be upheld.

Mrs Justice Jefford said: “Multiple examples of high culpability were present. The appellant was armed with a knife. He lured Mr Griffiths away from his friends, and was persistent in doing so.

“His motivation was revenge - for, as he saw it, taking his girlfriend away, or for the fight he had lost.”

While she acknowledged Rees’ immaturity and mental health difficulties, she said that the initial sentence by Recorder Wyn Lloyd-Jones last December was not “manifestly excessive”.