A Carew man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after an altercation outside a Tenby pub where a punch caused his victim to fall and crack his head on the floor - leading to the man suffering two separate bleeds on the brain and a fractured skull.

Twenty-eight-year-old Craig Jones of Kesteven Court, Carew, appeared in Court last week where he was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for two years, for his actions.

The court heard how the victim Wesley Griffiths who worked at the Bush Inn situated alongside Tenby’s historic Five Arches, was drinking at the establishment on a day off on September 8, 2021. A fellow member of staff tasked Mr. Griffiths to prevent any latecomers from entering the pub, whilst he was outside having a cigarette, at around 11 pm.

However, Jones who was a friend of Mr Griffiths, and had also been drinking at the premises that night, tried to re-enter the pub after meeting up with friends outside, but was told that he he couldn’t come in.

The court heard that Jones had a go at Mr. Griffiths verbally, before snatching his glasses. Witnesses said that he then made a fist and lined up a punch for a few seconds, before eventually hitting the victim who lost consciousness and fell, cracking his head on the floor.

After initially fleeing the scene, Jones eventually returned to the pub, admitting to police officers who had arrived that he had indeed punched Mr Griffiths.

The defendant was not arrested at the time but was later summoned for an interview, where he claimed he threw a punch in self-defence.

He later pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr Griffiths who had initially declined medical attention, was taken to hospital the following day, after his condition worsened, and was eventually transferred to a facility in Cardiff where he underwent a CT scan, which revealed that he had suffered two separate bleeds on the brain and a depressed fracture to the base of his skull.

The court heard that miraculously, no surgery was required, and Mr Griffiths was discharged from hospital two weeks later.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Griffiths said that he didn’t want Jones - who had one previous conviction for three offences, as well as a reprimand and a caution both for violent offences in 2011 and 2013 - to go to prison.

The defence solicitor for Jones told the court that the primary issue for his client was drugs and alcohol, explaining that Jones would drink around 10 pints daily, and also take cocaine regularly.

In sentencing, judge, Recorder David Harris delivered a stern message to the defendant, that his initial claim that he had acted in self-defence, was plainly not the case, and that his assault caused a serious brain injury that could have killed his victim.

As well as being handed a suspended sentence, Jones must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.