A local man has been told that if he gets into trouble again he will be going to prison.

That was the message given to Gavin Richard Nicholas when he was sentenced by magistrates this week after they watched a video showing CCTV footage of a 'shocking public disorder' incident involving the defendant, which occurred in Tenby's Tudor Square in July.

Nicholas, an assistant manager at Graham's in Carmarthen, was "seen to be having his say" to police who at the time "had their hands full" dealing with an unrelated arrest, just after 11 pm on July 21, the court heard on Tuesday.

"The defendant was actively having his say to police and became involved in quite a violent melee," crown prosecutor, Mr. Tim Roberts told the bench.

One of the officers was also confronted by 23-year-old Nicholas and the incident developed into scenes of a "free for all", with the police being outnumbered by the persons present.

Reinforcements were called for, and Nicholas was also said by the prosecution to have been the "catalyst, sparking things off again once the situation had been quelled by police."

Mr. Roberts explained that members of the public had come along and "lent a hand to aid the police."

However, the defence later claimed that two of those who helped the officers had caused the altercation.

"It was not just Mr. Nicholas who was involved in the incident that night," said Mr. Sean Dyer for the defence, who described the case as a "shocking case of public disorder."

Nicholas, said Mr. Dyer, accepted that the force he used was excessive, but the solicitor claimed that his client was "the one attacked and had lost his temper."

After retiring to consider the case, chairman of the bench, Mr. Robert Maine, told Nicholas, of 4 Coxhill, Narberth, they were "not at all happy."

"This occurred at 11 pm at night in a holiday area with holidaymakers around and this is not the sort of behaviour we want in Tenby," he said.

"We have considered a community penalty and custody was very much in our minds, but you have a good job and there was the possibility of a degree of provocation.

"However, on the other hand, you were given the opportunity to end it, but made an unprovoked attack on a male," he continued.

"If you ever get into trouble again there will be no question that you will go to gaol," he added.

Nicholas, who admitted an offence of affray, was fined £450, with £50 costs.