Two local men appeared in court this week following an 'unprovoked attack' on a woman during the early hours of the morning.

Magistrates sitting in Tenby on Tuesday heard how a Mrs. Gloria Jones was walking back to her home in Narberth shortly before 2 am on September 30 when she endured a frightening and fearful attack at the hands of the men.

Mrs. Jones had been to check on her nephew when she came across two men, who she recognised as Jason Feetham Morgan and his lodger, Alex Lyle Willis, armed with what she believed were sticks.

Both men were 'very drunk' and began shouting at Mrs. Jones in an aggressive manner and waving the 'sticks' in a 'martial arts fashion', Mr. Tim Roberts, of the Crown Prosecution Service, told the bench.

Mrs. Jones attempted to calm down the men, who reside at 1 Wells Road Terrace, Narberth, but they became more aggressive, started swearing at her and continued to advance towards her, banging and waving the sticks.

Willis, a self-employed labourer, hit Mrs. Jones on the leg with the stick, causing her to suffer immediate pain and shock, before swinging the stick at her again, this time hitting her on the elbow, the bench heard.

Mrs. Jones was extremely concerned about what was happening and as a result began knocking on the door of a nearby property for help.

Willis, however, continued to hit out at her, while Morgan, who it later transpired had been to play pool earlier in the evening and was carrying his cue and not a stick, continued to shout and swear.

The two also called Mrs. Jones 'abusive names', before her son intervened.

As a result of the incident, Mrs. Jones was treated at Withybush Hospital for bruising abrasions to the left side of her body. She also attended at her GP on the Monday.

"It was an unprovoked attack and Mrs. Jones can give no explanation at all for it," Mr. Roberts told the court.

"The whole incident lasted about 10 to 15 minutes," Mr. Roberts continued.

"Mrs. Jones was terrified, fearful and felt as if she was going to be severely beaten," he added.

The defendants were subsequently traced and in interview gave various explanations to the police.

Defence solicitor, Miss Sharon Knox told the bench that this was an incident that both Willis and Morgan 'regretted very deeply'.

"If they had not been drunk, this never would have occurred," she pointed out.

However, Miss Knox explained that there was a background to the matter involving Mrs. Jones's boyfriend and Willis, who were 'in dispute' with one another.

Willis decided to sort the matter out once and for all and had been going to speak to the gentleman when he came across Morgan and then Mrs. Jones, Miss Knox explained.

"He had been carrying the stick to protect himself," Miss Knox pointed out.

"He has very little recollection of what did occur, but he accepts he hit Mrs. Jones at some point, which he deeply regrets," she said.

"He admits that his language was abusive and unacceptable and is deeply upset with himself for his behaviour," she added.

When Morgan, a trained carpenter who is now attending an architecture and building course at Pembrokeshire College, sobered up and realised the severity of the incident, he was also 'very sorry', the solicitor stated.

"He doesn't know what effects this will have on his future, but he knows it will have some impact on him," commented Miss Knox, who handed in two character references for him.

Willis, who admitted offences of affray and assaulting Mrs. Jones causing her actual bodily harm, was given a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and fined £200. He was also ordered to pay Mrs. Jones £100 compensation and £50 prosecution costs.

Morgan, who pleaded guilty to the affray charge he faced, was fined £150 and ordered to pay £50 costs.