AN Aberystwyth man who launched a string of homophobic comments at a gay political worker just two days after the Orlando nightclub shootings has been given a suspended prison sentence.

David John Goodier told Michael Wilson, who was working at the Welsh Liberal Democrat office in Aberystwyth, that homosexuality was “evil” and an “abomination”, compared homosexuality to paedophilia and bestiality, and said that if he had known Mr Wilson was homosexual “maybe I’d have brought a gun”.

Goodier, 67, was convicted of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress during the incident on 14 June, but had absented himself from his own trial after insisting he would not be able to get a fair trial.

However, he appeared before District Judge John Parsons, who sat at the original trial, at Llanelli court after being arrested under a warrant and was sentenced to a 12-week prison sentence suspended for nine months.

Goodier, of Bay View, 3 St Michael’s Place, was ordered to pay compensation to Mr Wilson of £300 and £770 costs.

The trial had heard that Mr Wilson was shocked when Goodier made a string of derogatory remarks about homosexuality at the Lib Dem office in North Parade just two days after 49 people were killed and 53 more injured during a shooting at Orlando’s gay club Pulse.

Mr Wilson said he had been left shocked and upset by the comments which included Goodier saying that while he disagreed with the murder of revellers at the club it could sometimes be “justified” and that he “100 per cent agreed” with the shooter’s views on homosexuality.

After his arrest, Goodier told police that he had not intended to cause any distress or alarm, but had been speaking hypothetically and was looking to discuss issues.

However, Goodier was convicted following the trial with the district judge insisting that the comments had clearly been intended to upset and offend.