A dispute between neighbours in Milford Haven led to a father of two being fined in court this week after admitting assaulting three people, and throwing a plant pot at a car.

Fifty-one-year-old Anthony Craig, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, pleaded guilty to three charges of common assault on Jacovia Downing, Tiffany Bartens and Richard Roberts, when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.

Mr. Craig also pleaded guilty to damaging a plant pot to the value of £15 belonging to Mr. Roberts, after he threw it at his vehicle, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mr. Dennis Davies told magistrates that a longstanding neighbour dispute came to a head on January 21, when one of the complainants witnessed Mr. Craig’s ex wife reversing into his wheelie bin causing it to fall over.

“There was a verbal altercation between Mr. Roberts and the driver,” said Mr. Davies, explaining that the couple’s daughter was in the passenger seat at the time.

Mr. Craig reported the incident to the police, but later on confronted Mr. Roberts about the matter outside their premises.

After verbally abusing him, Mr. Craig began to swing a number of punches at Mr. Roberts, causing him to fall back into his partner Ms Dowing, and step-daughter Ms Bartens, who was pregnant at the time.

Mr. Roberts was left with scratches to his head and bruises below his left eye.

The defendant then threw a plant pot at the windscreen of Mr. Roberts’s Ford Mondeo.

When the police attended, Mr. Craig told officers ‘You better take me in, I hit him,’ adding ‘I threw a plant pot at his car’, before he was arrested.

Defence solicitor, Mr. Matthew Greenish said that his client accepted all matters when interviewed by the police, explaining that he and his family had suffered two years of abuse from Mr. Roberts, which had driven him over the edge on the day of the incident.

“There was a build-up of a lot of ongoing issues and Mr. Craig got to the end of his tether. He tried to resolve it, but has gone about it the wrong way.

“He has been in touch with the Housing Association and is trying to get away and start afresh with his two daughters,” explained Mr. Greenish.

Magistrates fined Mr. Craig £180 for the assault offences, and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 to Mr. Roberts, £20 each to Ms Downing and Ms Bartens, and a further £15 for the damaged plant pot.