A LLANDOVERY man beat a man outside his own home after an argument over the amount of noise he and a group of friends were allegedly making.

Luke Francis James Southgate, 21, punched Jonathan Geraint Ford after he and his partner told Southgate's group of friends to keep the noise down after they made their way back from the Black Lion in Llangadog on January 8.

Llanelli magistrates heard Southgate, 21, had drunk around four or five pints of lager and a number of shots at the pub before a female friend who made up part of the group was asked to leave the pub.

Noise

Prosecutor Gerald Neave told the court: "The group were asked to keep the noise down by Mr Ford.

"His partner spoke to the group and a brief discussion occurred, during which Mr Ford said a lot of noise was being made.

"The defendant went for Mr Ford, resulting in him falling to the ground."

The court heard that when interviewed by officers at Ammanford Police Station, Southgate said he could only remember one punch being thrown.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Michael Reed said: "He had pleaded guilty at the very first opportunity.

"It is very sad he has come before the court today.

"His mother and father are with him and they are extremely saddened he has appeared in court.

"They are obviously very concerned and that is why they have come along to court with him.

"This is a case where the defendant is very ashamed of what happened."

Magistrate John Phillips said: "We have listened to the case and we consider it to be a very serious offence, an assault by punching and kicking an innocent victim."

Southgate, of Maesglas, Llandovery, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was given a 12-month community order to do 200 hours' unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £400 compensation to the victim.