A Tenby man did not know he was due in court until he read in the local newspaper that he had failed to attend the hearing, magistrates sitting in the town heard this week.
Although Luke Anthony Askew received a bail notice from the police informing him of the court hearing, he was still under the influence of alcohol when he left the police station during the early hours of Christmas Day morning, the court was told on Tuesday.
Twenty-five-year-old Askew had been arrested by police shortly after midnight on December 25 after officers saw him being restrained by a female in Tudor Square.
The two officers told Askew, of 53 Heywood Court, it was Christmas and asked him to go home. However, he swore at them and they had to warn him regarding his language. He was subsequently arrested, handcuffed and taken to the town's police station.
"He was in an agitated state and abusive," crown prosecutor, Mr. Tim Roberts, told the bench.
Askew signed his bail notice and wrote on it 'Merry Christmas', but failed to attend the first hearing regarding the case on January 8.
Defence solicitor, Rhian Davies explained that this incident was "totally out of character" for Askew, who had been "out on the town for many hours" on Christmas Eve.
"He is not the sort of person that generally gets into trouble with the police and is not generally abusive. He has no excuse other than he was under the influence of alcohol," she said.
"He lost his bail notice somewhere between the police station and home and did not know when he had to attend court until he read in the local newspaper that he had failed to attend. He then contacted the police."
After admitting an offence of causing harassment, alarm or distress, Askew was given a conditional discharge for six months.
He also pleaded guilty to failing to attend court on January 8 and was fined £60, with £35 costs.