Gwent Police
Michael Dumbuya was sentenced to 14 years and five months at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday
A 37-year-old who dragged a man from his bed, punched and kicked him repeatedly before driving off in a case of mistaken identity has been jailed for more than 14 years.
Michael Dumbuya, from London, was part of a group who attacked Cody Hudd in his home after driving to south Wales on 20 May to recover drugs on behalf of an organised crime group, but went to the wrong address.
He then drove off, reaching speeds above 150mph (241 km/h) and was caught by police after a high-speed chase, before crashing with another motorist.
He was sentenced to 14 years and five months at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday.
The court heard Mr Hudd woke up to three men in his room asking about drugs, who then punched and slapped him repeatedly before dragging him by the neck out of the room and leading him downstairs and into his garden.
After opening his car and trying to show the men he did not have any of their drugs, he was attacked again by the men, which was filmed by one of the attackers.
The video, played to the court, showed the victim lying on the floor with blood in his mouth while a man pointed a finger in his face and asked him about drugs.
At one point, his head was stamped on by one of the men.
After running from the house following the attack, the court heard police located Dumbuya’s vehicle on the M4 near Caerleon, Newport county, and pursued it.
The 37-year-old was travelling at more than 150mph (241 km/h) on the M4, until the car left the M4 at junction 17, where it crashed into another motorist.
Dumbuya was seen climbing out of the driver’s side window.
Crown Prosecution Service
The car travelled at speeds in excess of 150mph before crashing
After arresting him, police recovered a loaded sawn-off shotgun from Dumbuya’s car, along with a balaclava, gloves and a carbon dioxide-powered pistol.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) used the presence of the victim’s blood on his clothes as part of their evidence in the case.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Hudd said his life had changed since the attack and he became “cold and distant” and “easily distracted”.
“I don’t get any enjoyment out of anything,” he said.
“I feel like I have no motivation or drive.”
Mr Hudd said he was “trying to put all of this behind me but it’s proving difficult”, adding “there has been additional financial stress as I haven’t been able to work since it’s happened”.
Crown Prosecution Service
One of the weapons recovered following Dumbuya’s arrest was a sawn-off shotgun
Sentencing Dumbuya, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said he was “involved in the supply of cocaine” and acted as a “paid enforcer” using “serious violence and weapons” on behalf of organised crime groups.
“You had been recruited to use force and terror,” she said, adding his role was to recover drugs which had gone missing and he was due to be paid £5,000 for his part in the plan.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said Dumbaya had put his foot on Mr Hudd’s chest, pressing down “so hard that it was hard for him to breathe”.
She added when police found him he was in possession of a crowbar, a sawn-off shotgun and a phone with a video taken by one of the three men during the attack.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said there was a “significant degree of planning” and it was a “prolonged and persistent assault” involving “dangerous” driving.
Dumbuya pleaded guilty to five charges including possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and dangerous driving. He pleaded not guilty to a sixth charge of aggravated burglary, which will lie on file.
He was sentenced to a total of 14 years and five months in prison.
He was also was ordered to pay a £228 surcharge within 12 months and was disqualified from driving.
Following the sentencing, Millie Davies of the CPS said Dumbuya had “planned the attack and armed himself with dangerous weapons before subjecting the victim to a prolonged assault”.
She added: “Dumbuya also tried to evade police by driving at high speeds for a considerable distance along the motorway, showing no regard for the safety of others.”
Two other men were charged with conspiracy to commit arson and burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and have since been released on bail.
A 37-year-old man from Wolverhampton and a 32-year-old man from Stafford are next due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on 9 January.
