A Monkton man was given a suspended jail sentence last week, after admitting assaulting two men who had just attended a funeral.

Thirty-six-year-old Joseph James, of Marshall Road, pleaded guilty to assaulting, Colin Owen and Steve Evans, at The Prince of Wales pub, on Pembroke Dock’s Law Street, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that the two victims, who were both in their 50s, had called into the premises on October 28, of last year, after attending a funeral.

The defendant, who had consumed around 10 to 12 pints, the court heard, started chatting about football to the pair, but soon afterwards became violent towards them, punching Mr. Owen in the eye and causing injury to Mr. Evans’s ear.

Both men were taken to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordest via ambulance so their injuries could be treated.

Mr. James’s solicitor, Matthew Greenish, told magistrates that unfortunately football banter between the two parties had turned nasty.

He explained that his client, a scaffolding supervisor, had been going through a difficult time personally, and had turned to alcohol to cope with his issues.

Mr. James was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, banned from entering The Prince of Wales for a year, and ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work, as well as attending an alcohol awareness programme.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £600 to Mr. Owen and £300 to Mr. Evans, along with court costs totalling £165.