A pair of twisted thugs laughed and high-fived each other after they brutally beat a Scots dad-of-two to death outside a Travelodge hotel.
Falkirk man Andrew Main, 33, was repeatedly punched in the head by brutes Macauley Ruddock, 28, and Joseph Dix, 26, outside a Travelodge in Swansea. The pair attacked the festival worker in a “two-on-one” assault while he lay unconscious on a pavement outside the hotel on July 17, 2024.
Prosecutors at Swansea Crown Court argued Ruddock, from Bath, and Dix, from Frome, were the aggressors that night after they “took exception” to Mr Main and his friend Michael Ball after they spoke to a female guest at the hotel that the pair had previously been speaking with, reports the Mirror.
Mr Main swung punches toward Dix during a confrontation before he ran away. The pair them chased after him, with Dix ending up knocking him to the ground with a punch to the back of his head.
The jury heard Mr Main was likely unconscious and received another blow to the head as he lay on the ground motionless and bleeding. Prosecutors argued Dix and Ruddock were “the aggressors from the start” and “exalted” in their brutality.
The pair were seen “laughing, high-fiving, showing off” following the attack. Mr Main was taken to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with catastrophic brain injuries and complex facial fractures. On the Glasgow Coma Scale, he scored a three out of 15, the lowest possible score.
Mr Main was moved to Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh to be close to his family but died on August 14, never regaining consciousness.
Following the trial, Dix and Ruddock were sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years, 176 days.
Detective Inspector Claire Lamerton said: “We are pleased to hear of the murder conviction for both Joseph Dix and Macauley Ruddock. Both men were visiting Swansea for work, as was Andrew Main. All three were staying at the same city centre hotel, and met for the first time at a nearby bar.
“Later that night, an argument broke out back at the hotel between Joseph Dix and Macauley Ruddock and Andrew Main and his friend Michael Bell. This argument moved onto the street, before Dix and Ruddock chased after Andrew Main, ultimately striking him unconscious before carrying out a sustained attack.
“While the parties had all consumed alcohol that night, that does not provide an excuse for the level of violence displayed by Joseph Dix and Macauley Ruddock. They clearly set out to cause serious injury to their victim, and now will face significant prison sentences for their actions.
“Our thoughts remain with Andrew’s family and friends, who have been devastated by what has happened and continue to grieve his loss. This case highlights how the effects of intoxicants can negatively affect behaviour and decision-making. Had Joseph Dix and Macauley Ruddock chosen to walk away that night, a life would have been saved, and they would not be convicted killers.”
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