He suffered life-changing injuries in the attack and later died
Over two decades after Leon Adams was brutally attacked on the streets of Cardiff in an episode which went on to end his life years later, an appeal has been renewed to find whoever was responsible. Leon James Adams was 24 when he walked away from The Cottage pub on St Mary Street in Cardiff late on the evening of February 13, 2002.
He had just finished a shift and was carrying more than £130 in cash when he left the pub. At 5.16am the following morning – February 14, 2002 – police were called to Grangetown railway station after receiving a report of a man lying on the ground covered in blood.
The injured man was Mr Adams, who was unconscious and found with bruising and swelling to his face. The cash he had in his possession upon leaving the pub was never found, and police believed the motive behind the brutal attack was robbery.
Mr Adams was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff having sustained “severe head injuries”. He had abrasions to his face and a CT scan showed brain swelling and a bleed on the left side of his brain. He also developed pneumonia and was in a coma for two years before regaining consciousness.
However, when he woke he was quadriplegic and struggled to communicate. He lived in Yr Ysgol care home in Ystradgynlais and, following a deterioration in his health, passed away aged 47 on Boxing Day 2024 – almost 23 years after he was attacked.
In October this year coroner Patricia Morgan concluded: “Leon James Adams was a fit and healthy man until he was the victim of an assault at Grangetown railway station on February 14, 2002. He was left with catastrophic injuries and was reliant on a care home due to his substantial needs. He was prone to infections due to his condition.”
Ms Morgan said it was “likely” that Mr Adams’ condition meant it was harder for him to “fight infections”, and concluded that the “brutal assault” inflicted upon him “more than minimally contributed to his death”.
Mr Adams’ mother Angela Main said: “He was an amazing artist. After he got beaten up and came out of the coma he was a really funny man. We had some good years in the last few years. I miss him.”
Now Mr Adams’ family, with the help of South Wales Police and Crimestoppers, are appealing for anyone who might have information to come forward. South Wales Police said it has received new information since Mr Adams’ death.
Detective Superintendent Mark O’Shea at South Wales Police said his team was determined to try and solve the case. He said: “We’ve spent the last 20 years reviewing the evidence at various junctures, as science improves. A number of exhibits were recovered from the scene and we are hopeful that as science moves on it might give us an opportunity.”
He added he was sure there were people in Cardiff who knew who was responsible for the attack, including some who had been in touch with police in the past 12 months since Leon’s death. “Please contact us – his mother deserves justice.”
Hayley Fry, Wales national manager for the charity Crimestoppers, said: “This was a violent and life-changing attack that left Leon Adams with devastating injuries which ultimately contributed to his death more than 20 years later.
“We believe there are people who know what happened to Leon that night and have never come forward or you may have seen something, heard something later, or not realised at the time how important their information could be.
“Crimestoppers is completely independent of the police. You will never be asked for your name or personal details, and we cannot trace calls or online reports. If you know anything at all about what happened to Leon, please tell our charity what you know.” You can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.
