Masked man said he would 'cut, stab and slice' fellow college students in horrific video

A masked man wearing a fedora hat filmed himself making vile threats against students at a Welsh college and said he would "cut, stab and slice" people at the institution. He posted the video to YouTube, which was seen by members of the college who were "upset and panicked" by what they saw.

Oliver Beynon, 21, uploaded the threatening video on August 31 last year, in which he made threats to kill students at Merthyr Tydfil College. He was wearing a black fedora hat and a Merthyr Tydfil College facemask in a bid to hide his identity.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the defendant made threats to "cut, stab and slice" people attending the college, and referred to himself as "The Welshman". 

The horrific footage was played to the court and showed Beynon staring intensely at the camera.

He could be heard saying: "Next September, not this week but next week, I'm going to kill every people(sic) in Merthyr Tydfil College in south Wales. I am going to stab, cut, slice and open their insides out.

"Blood, guts, even bones, even... they will be killed by God.

"Stab their eyes, their tongue, their throats... I could do everything I wanted."

The defendant, a former student at Merthyr Tydfil College, also talked about "taking over a body" before adding: "The god I'm here and I'm going to kill every person in Merthyr Tydfil College."

The video was quickly reported to the police, who were easily able to identify Beynon from the footage. His father had also contacted 101 after being made aware of the video.

Police attended the defendant's home in Fochriw, Caerphilly, and seized a number of devices, one of which was found to contain the offending video.

During his interview, Beynon fully admitted he had posted the video and said he had been suffering with mental health problems.

He said the video "escalated quickly" and regretted making it. The defendant said he heard voices in his head telling him to make the video.

He also told officers he was "under so much pressure", was being bullied and had received death threats.

Prosecutor Byron Broadstock said the defendant suffers from dyslexia and autism and spends much of his time in his bedroom watching YouTube and playing video games.

The prosecutor said the video had a "profound impact" on Merthyr Tydfil College and its students, who were left "upset and panicked".

Beynon, of Hill Street, later pleaded guilty to sending a threatening communication. The court heard he has no previous convictions.

In mitigation, Alice Sykes said her client was of a young age and lacked maturity but he had co-operated with the investigation and made full admissions.

Recorder Christian Jowett sentenced Beynon to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

The defendant was also made subject to an exclusion requirement from Merthyr Tydfil College, a mental health treatment requirement and a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.