Ex-EPL star’s son jailed after punching cop 33 times, causing brain bleed

A FORMER Premier League's star son has been jailed after punching a retired female cop 33 times in a savage attack at a hospital.

Joni Hartson - son of Arsenal, Celtic and Wales player-turned-pundit John Hartson - lured fellow patient Dawn Lloyd, 67, into a garden.

The 22-year-old then launched into the terrifying attack - punching her 33 times as she desperately tried to defend herself.

Chillingly, Hartson told police he targeted Dawn - a former Royal protection officer - because her age made her an "easy target".

He later admitted: "I wish I had killed her."

Hartson also attacked a healthcare worker days later by punching his arm when he was moved to a hospital in Carmarthen.

The brute has now been jailed for two years and six months after pleading guilty to GBH and assault of an emergency worker.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Hartson, who has autism, was a patient at Bryngofal Ward in the Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, South Wales.

He had not been sectioned at the time of the attack on October 18 last year but was being treated for suicidal thoughts.

Shocking CCTV showed Hartson battering Dawn - a former detective who had served for 17 years in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

She was left with a bleed on the brain following the horror and is now unable to form coherent sentences.

But the court was told Dawn, who was suffering from confusion due to an autoimmune condition when she was attacked, is able to say: "He's not going to hit me again."

Her sister Hannah Cox said in a victim impact statement how Dawn worked with the Royal protection team and later went on to be an office manager for on the Queen's Jubilee.

She added: "Dawn served diligently and with compassion."

But Hannah said her sister has since become anxious and worried and is scared of loud noises - including doors slamming.

Owen Williams, defending, said Hartson was depressed with suicidal thoughts when he carried out the violent assault.

He also said the thug was suffering from "possible hallucinations which were commanding in nature" - although no psychosis diagnosis has been given.

Sentencing, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke called the attack "planned and premeditated".

She added: "You selected Miss Lloyd because you could see that she was vulnerable.

"You used those vulnerabilities to select her as a target. You deliberately chose someone who would quite obviously be unable to resist."

Hartson was signed as a teenager by Swansea City, with his dad previously expressing his pride at the footballer's hat-trick against Liverpool's youth team.

John Hartson began his career at Luton in 1992 before joining Arsenal three years later for £2.5million - a record for a teen player at the time.

The striker played for the club 53 times - scoring 14 goals - before he left in 1997 to join West Ham.

In 1999, John became Wimbledon's most expensive signing ever when he signed a £7.5million contract.

His time at the club didn't last long though and after a stint at Coventry, John moved to Celtic in 2001 in a £6million transfer.

He played for the team 146 times and scored 88 goals before moving make to England in 2006 to join West Brom.

Hartson eventually hung up his boots in 2007 after gaining 51 caps for Wales.