Millionaire behind coal mine 'assaulted' lawyer

MINING tycoon David Lewis was cautioned for assault against a solicitor. Lewis was later prosecuted, only for the case to be dropped - angering the alleged victim, Robert Davies MBE.

- CONOR GOGARTY

Lewis, 68, is the sole director of Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, which ran Merthyr Tydfil’s Ffos y Fran - the UK’s last opencast coal mine - from 2007 until two years ago, when it finally closed more than a year after its planning permission had expired.

The company, which turned over £75.2m in 2022 and £54.6m the following year, is currently mired in controversy over the land’s restoration.

The alleged victim, Mr Davies, has been a solicitor for more than 50 years and was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his contribution to legal services. The 75-year-old is the founder and chairman of Newport-based RDP Law.

The background to the alleged assault, according to Mr Davies, has to do with a civil court case. He told the Western Mail: “In April 2024, proceedings between companies controlled by Lewis, and a third party, were heard by the High Court in London. Both parties had wanted me as a witness; I declined, but appeared when summonsed by the court to do so.”

After Mr Davies gave evidence in the High Court, he says, he was visited by Lewis on the afternoon of May 16 last year while heading out of his law firm’s office in Newport. The solicitor claimed in a statement to police: “I noticed there was a black convertible car parked in the bay immediately to the right of the front door of the office as one walks out.

“As I was leaving the front entrance, I turned left towards my car and heard someone call: ‘Come here you f*****g little s***!’ At that I saw Mr Lewis getting out of his car. He walked up to me saying a stream of invectives, came right up against me, pushing himself against me and causing me to move backwards.”

Mr Davies claimed he tried to deescalate the situation but that Lewis followed him around the corner of the office. He alleged Lewis pushed him against the lobby window, with a hand or arm around the solicitor’s neck. Lewis allegedly told him: “You dropped me in it, you lying b******”