FOUR men who became embroiled in a bloody mass brawl on a train have been spared prison sentences.

The fight between two groups of men from Blaenau Ffestiniog and Pwllheli broke out on a train between Barmouth and Porthmadog during the early evening on Saturday, 25 July, last year.

On one side were Dylan John Evans, 43, of Glanrafon Terrace, Tanygrisiau, and Marc Wyn Morris, 24, of Jones Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, while on the opposing side were Dylan Wyn Jones, 38, of Ffordd y Maer, Pwllheli, and Rhys Jones, 42, of Lôn Ceredigion, Penrhos.

A hearing at Caernarfon Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, heard how a row had erupted involving a large group of people in the doorway area of the train carriage.

CCTV footage played to the court showed all four men were involved in the brawl that left some lying prostrate on the floor of the carriage and others with bloodied and torn clothes.

Evans, Morris, Dylan Wyn Jones and Rhys Jones all pleaded guilty to charges of affray.

At least three other men, who were not charged after the incident, were involved in the melee and two women could be seen to be caught up in the crowd of brawlers.

Prosecutor Diane Williams told magistrates that all four men could be seen to be throwing punches while Dylan Wyn Jones bit one man during the fracas.

His solicitor Mike Strain said that Dylan Jones accepted that his teeth did make contact with another man’s arm but insisted it was a defensive bite because he had been struck in the face with a forearm.

Mr Strain said Dylan Jones was a father of one while Rhys Jones was a father of three and that both men were hard-working members of their community.

He said: “They have never been in trouble before and they understand that it’s right and proper that they be punished for what they have done.”

Defending Dylan John Evans and Marc Wyn Morris, solicitor Richard Williams said: “They weren’t looking for trouble but they accept that they didn’t try hard enough to avoid it.

“It’s a lesson very sorely learned. They have been living with the possibility of a custodial sentence hanging over them from that day until today.”

Chair of the bench Siwan Jones told the men they had only been spared custodial sentences because of their early guilty pleas and previous good character.

She said: “We were shocked and appalled at what we witnessed. This happened in the early evening in the summer when there were other passengers, including tourists, on the train.

“It will have put them in great fear of travelling on the train again.

“You are all of previous good character and all well thought of in your communities.

“You have not only let yourselves down, but you have let your families and communities down as well.”

All four were given 12-month community orders and each ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. They must each pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.

No evidence was offered against a fifth man charged with affray in relation to the incident.

After carefully reviewing CCTV footage, Miss Williams told magistrates prosecutors would cease action against Dylan Ellis Jones, 23, of Cae’r Ffynnon, Trawsfynydd, and the case was dismissed by the court.