Brawl 'disgrace' soldier set for Afghan service
Shaun McAuliffe, of the Royal Welsh regiment, was among three men sentenced at Swansea Crown Court as a result of a violent incident that erupted in Neath town centre last June.
One of the co-defendants, Stephen Richards, will be scarred for life after losing a quarter of his right ear when it was bitten off by an unknown assailant in the late-night fighting, the judge was told.
Neath men McAuliffe, Richards and Andrew Jones all pleaded guilty to violent disorder when they appeared before Mr Justice Butterfield.
Craig Jones, prosecuting, said trouble flared when there was hostility between customers at Kiwis in The Parade on the night of June 6.
The incident spilled out onto the street, with Richards butting a man called Kyle Jordan and trying to kick him.
The violence then continued with McAuliffe and Jones — who were associates of Jordan's — attacking Richards.
At some point in the fracas, the court heard, Richards had part of his ear bitten off, but it was not clear who had done this or when it had happened.
Defence lawyers, blaming the violent disorder on drunken- ness, emphasised that the conduct of their clients had been totally out of character.
The court heard that infantry private McAuliffe, based at barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire, is due to travel with his regiment to Afghanistan later this year.
Sentencing, the judge told the three: "This was a disgraceful episode of serious public violence at night that caused considerable disturbance and alarm to citizens of Neath.
"Citizens are entitled to go about their lawful affairs without having to deal with drunken people who are causing trouble on the streets."
None of the defendants could complain if they received a prison sentence, said the judge. But he was prepared to avoid custodial terms because he accepted defence submissions that they were men with "real prospects" who would never trouble the courts again.
Each was made the subject of a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £400 prosecution costs.
McAuliffe, aged 25, was further ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid community work, and Jones, aged 23, of Highbury Court, 150 hours.
Richards, aged 27, of Wern Road, Skewen, must stay indoors at night for the next three months under a curfew.
The judge told Richards: "You will be scarred for the rest of your life as a result of what happened. You lost part of your ear when it was bitten off by somebody — but we don't know by whom."
postnews@swwmedia.co.uk
