TWO men working at the Dunbia meat factory in Llanybydder attacked three colleagues in the centre of the village after a row about a necklace.

Christian Betke, of Myrddyn House, Llanybydder, fist punched, headbutted and kicked Akos Glock and then did the same to Csongor Palicsak when he intervened.

Kamil Szpryngiel of Flat 2, Vale of Teifi, Highmead Terrace, Highmead, sided with Betke and joined in the attacks.

Then Betke, 31, and 25-year-old Szpryngiel, beat up Ioan Asztalos when he tried to protect Mr Palicsak.

Both men admitted two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of assault by beating.

Frank Phillips, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how Mr Glock was taken to Glangwili Hospital and later transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, where he was treated for facial injuries so serious that his scars would be permanent.

Mr Phillips said the violence followed a drinking session at a local pub, where Betke had shown Mr Glock a necklace.

The necklace went missing, said Mr Phillips, and when Betke later caught up with him he produced it from his pocket but could not explain how it had got there.

“Betke considered that he had stolen it and punched him in the face. It escalated from there,” he added.

Mr Phillips said all the men knew each other from work and there had not been any further incidents although, because of something that had happened at the factory, Betke had been transferred to another site.

Betke was jailed for 21 months and Szpryngiel for 16 months, suspended for 18 months, and both were ordered to pay £800 in prosecution costs and a £140 court surcharge.

In addition, Betke was ordered to pay Mr Glock £700 in compensation and £150 to Mr Palicsak. Szpryngiel was told to pay £300 and £100.

Betke will also carry out 220 hours of unpaid work for the community and Szpryngiel 180 hours.