AN ABERYSTWYTH man has admitted being drunk and disorderly after he was arrested for abusing Welsh people following England’s loss to Australia in the World Cup.
William Henry Loveridge, 27, of Avondale, Trefechan, had initially denied the charge at a hearing in October.
But at his scheduled trial last week, Loveridge said he was changing his plea because his witness was unable to attend trial.
Prosecuting, Dennis Davies told the court that at around 1.40am on Sunday, 4 October, police had been near the Angel and Academy public houses in Upper Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, when they noticed Loveridge shouting at other people before he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
Mr Davies said: “Police saw the defendant walk behind the Academy pub where they heard him shout ‘you are Welsh, you are c***s’ and ‘we won the rugby’.”
Earlier on Saturday evening, England had lost 13-33 to Australia in a pool Rugby World Cup match which saw them exit the competition.
Mr Davies added: “Another officer heard him making comments such as ‘I could fight you all’ in a threatening and drunken manner.”
Representing himself, Loveridge was told he would incur extra charges because his late guilty plea meant that two police officers had attended court to give evidence in his trial.
Loveridge said: “I’m sorry if I have wasted your time.”
The court also heard that Loveridge was technically in breach of a six-month conditional discharge after being found to have been drunk and disorderly at the same location in April this year.
But magistrates decided it shouldn’t be pursued because of how close he was to the end of the 6-month period when the offence was committed.
Loveridge was ordered to pay a total of £520 in fines and costs, which he has agreed to pay back at £50 per week.