Two brothers who went out in Tenby drinking to ‘wet the baby’s head’ have appeared in court to answer assault charges after becoming involved in a mass brawl with pub doorstaff and police officers.

Forty-year-old Andrew Wyn Phillips, of Pwll, Llanelli, and Stephen Richard Phillips, of Harries Avenue, Llanelli, both appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to separate charges of assaulting a police officer acting in the exercise of their functions.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that on Saturday, July 20, police officers came across both brothers engaged in confrontation with the door staff of a town centre pub in Tenby.

“Both were fighting with the door staff and the officers intervened. The older brother Andrew grabbed one police officer by the arms forcefully, whilst Stephen punched another to the head. Police officers were forced to use incapacity spray and both men were arrested,” she explained.

Defence solicitor Laura Sherwood told the court that neither of the defendants had any previous convictions, and that the incident was clearly out of character.

She told magistrates that both men were out to wet the baby’s head, celebrating the recent edition to Stephen’s family.

“Alcohol was consumed and both accepted that their judgement that night would have been coloured, but their actions is not something they would normally partake in, and very out of character.

“The incident stemmed from Andrew Phillips being ejected from a pub by door staff. Stephen Phillips at this point had no idea what had occurred, and all he could see was his older brother being dragged out of the premises. His reaction was probably not sensible, but he went to intervene, and the situation escalated.

“Unfortunately at that point a number of people had got involved, and neither of the brothers realised that the police were there, as everyone appeared to be in dark clothing.

“There was no premeditation to this incident, which escalated and went too far. Both defendants realise that they were wrong and have taken responsibility for their actions.

“It is always unpleasant when there is a public disturbance, especially when the police are involved,” she added.

Before sentencing, the chief magistrate told both defendants: “This is not the sort of incident we like to see on the streets of Pembrokeshire. It was in a public place at 10 pm, when there were clearly a lot of people around.

“It was a lengthy incident that clearly wasn’t instantaneous and went on some time. You had been drinking all day and can’t remember swinging punches, so clearly a lot of alcohol had been consumed.”

Both defendants were fined £738 each for the offence, and ordered to pay £200 each in compensation to the police officers assaulted.

They were both also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £63 victim surcharge.