Violent Assault Follows Business Awards Ceremony in Wales
A dog groomer was brutally attacked by the husband of a business rival outside an awards ceremony after his company secured the top prize. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred following the Best of Welsh Business Awards last year, where Julian Sandy's Woofterz Dog Grooming triumphed over seven other firms, including Paws n Relax, owned by the attacker's wife.
Details of the Attack and Aftermath
Julian Sandy, 47, was celebrating his hard-earned victory at the Flint Mountain Park Hotel on June 18, 2025, when Adrian Bolton, 56, approached him alone in the courtyard. Mr Sandy, who runs the grooming business with his partner Martin Bradley, 42, stated that Bolton initially asked for a word, but then launched a sudden and violent assault.
'I really didn't think anything of it as I hardly knew the man,' Mr Sandy recounted. 'Suddenly, out of nowhere, he was hitting me in the head and kicking me and twisting my thumb and not letting go. I was so shocked and suddenly in so much pain I didn't even manage to defend myself. I just couldn't believe what was happening as it came from nowhere.'
Security personnel eventually intervened, allowing Mr Sandy to escape to his hotel room. However, the physical and financial consequences have been severe and long-lasting.
Injuries and Financial Impact
The assault resulted in a snapped joint and chipped bone in Mr Sandy's thumb, rendering him unable to work for twelve weeks. This forced him to redirect clients to rival groomers, including Paws n Relax, leading to an estimated £18,000 loss in earnings and expenses.
Mr Sandy detailed the financial strain: 'Customers would call me for an appointment and since I only had one good hand, I would have to explain I would not be able to do it for a couple of months, due to my injury. With the court case pending I couldn't tell them what happened to my hand and would have to listen to the odd one or two, say they would have to try Pawz n Relax instead, as it is probably the closest alternative salon to ours.'
He also had to spend £6,000, originally allocated for salon improvements, on basic survival and bills during his recovery period.
Ongoing Health Concerns and Legal Outcome
Beyond the immediate injuries, Mr Sandy continues to suffer daily severe pain in his thumb, requiring constant pain relief. He has been prescribed antidepressants by his doctor due to the mental trauma. Additional injuries included bruising to his jaw, which made eating difficult for weeks, and bruising in his kidney area.
Worryingly, the hand injury has caused his bone to fuse to the tendon, potentially forcing him to abandon his beloved career. 'At the last appointment, the orthopaedic consultant told me I could carry on working for now but at some point, I may need surgery and to rest it and it could be that with long term prognosis it that the pain will never really go away and I will have to give up Woofterz and dog grooming, something I really love,' he expressed.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Sandy wrote: 'To date, I am still suffering daily from severe pain in the thumb that was injured in the attack and I have to take pain relief on a constant basis. I have also been prescribed antidepressants by my doctor. [...] I understand the legal process should be over soon but I will still be suffering and will have to live everyday with the effects of physical pain and mental trauma for an unforeseeable amount of time.'
Adrian Bolton admitted to assault causing actual bodily harm at Mold Magistrates Court on February 27. He was sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay Mr Sandy £2,000 in compensation.
Mr Sandy lamented the perceived injustice, noting that while he endured months of pain and financial worry, Bolton's wife's salon posted on social media about a holiday in Dubai. 'It just feels so unfair,' he concluded.
