A SLOVENIAN national who pepper-sprayed two Aberystwyth pub doormen may have reacted as he did because of a “cultural barrier”, his solicitor has said.

Milos Ilic, of Bailiff’s Cottage in Llanbadarn Fawr, was going through a “mix of emotions” as he was confused about why a friend had been asked to leave the Angel Inn and also didn’t realise that pepper spray was prohibited in the UK.

Ilic pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon that discharges noxious liquid as well as two charges of assault on the doormen of the Angel following the incident in the early hours of 22 May.

Kevin Challinor, prosecuting, said Ilic was with friends in the Angel when door staff realised that one of the people he was with was banned from the premises.

While Ilic’s friend was leaving, Mr Challinor said Ilic became agitated about things and grabbed one of the doormen, Dimitar Paskalev.

Nigel Bowden, the other doorman, fearing that Mr Paskalev was going to be punched, grabbed Ilic’s arm, which led to him becoming more aggressive. The door staff decided to escort Ilic, 33, from the premises and, after releasing him outside, were sprayed with the pepper spray.

Ilic told officers that he hadn’t realised it was illegal as it had not been confiscated when he entered the country.

Defence solicitor Iestyn Davies said Ilic had moved from his homeland of Slovenia to Serbia as a result of the Balkans War and said that his experiences during the conflict may have played a part in his reaction when he was escorted out of the Angel by the door staff.

Mr Davies said: “I think there’s a lack of understanding and a cultural barrier that played a part here.”

Ilic was given a 12-month community order and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 40 hours’ unpaid work. He will also pay £100 compensation to each of the doormen, as well as costs of £170.