A MAN was knocked unconscious by a single punch in a late night disturbance and suffered a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain.

Defendant Benjamin Stephens, a 25-year-old slaughter man, was warned that he could have killed his victim, Ceri Williams.

But Stephens escaped immediate custody when he appeared at Mold Crown Court.

He received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and must carry out 250 hours unpaid work.

Stephens, of Ponthafren, Eastgate Street in Llanidloes, must observe a tagged curfew to remain indoors between 7pm and 5am until 17 February of next year.

The defendant was also ordered to pay his victim £1,000 compensation.

There had been an exchange of words between two groups and the defendant’s girlfriend had earlier been involved in a scuffle with the complainant Ceri Williams in the early hours of 13 May, the court heard.

But the defendant – who admitted GBH - punched him one blow, which knocked him to the ground unconscious.

Judge Niclas Parry told him: “Simply put, you could have killed that man.

“The North Wales courts have dealt with far too many cases of manslaughter where there has been one punch in a public street.”

The court heard that the defendant had no convictions for violence, and was a hard-working man who had acted out of character.

Prosecuting barrister Paulinus Barnes said that Mr Williams and his brother were waiting for their mother to pick them up.

Another group including the defendant walked by and words were exchanged. The defendant threw some water at the other group.

A female, the defendant’s girlfriend, returned to the group and ended up scuffling with Mr Williams after it was alleged that she was subjected to verbal abuse.

The defendant pushed Mr Williams to the chest with both hands.

Another man tried to restrain him but was punched to the ground and the defendant then delivered a single punch to Mr Williams, who fell straight to the floor unconscious, without trying to save himself.

Defending barrister Simon Mills said it was clear that there had been an element of provocation, a woman subjected to sexist abuse had been involved in a scuffle with him, and the defendant saw her being dragged about.

Mr Mills said that the aggression went out of the incident immediately it was realised the other man was unconscious.