A 39-YEAR-OLD man went berserk when he spotted that he was being filmed as he drove at 30mph on a popular Gwynedd beach and went on to attack holidaymakers, a court has heard.

On Friday, Richard O’Neill was jailed for a total of 22 months after pleading guilty to causing actual bodily harm to beach warden Alun Williams, five common assaults – two of them against women – affray, dangerous diving, drink-driving and indecent exposure.

O’Neill, of Lower Road, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, was banned from driving for four years and 11 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

He appeared via video link from prison, where he was on remand, and Judge Timothy Petts told him at Caernarfon Crown Court: “It was completely unnecessary, a display of drunken behaviour on a public beach where people were enjoying their summer holidays.”

He’d been driving at up to 30mph and when he realised he was being filmed he became abusive and exposed himself.

“When people tried to reason with you, you began to assault them, including biting and punching” said the judge.

“You had to be restrained and when the beach warden arrived you bit him, causing scarring.”

The judge added that during his “rampage” he also kicked a dog.

Brian Treadwell, prosecuting, said some of the victims had the anxiety of medical tests to check for serious illness or disease after being bitten.

In an impact statement, Claire Yates, there with husband Martin, who were both assaulted, said: “I believed this man was going to kill my husband and myself.

“My two daughters were swimming in the sea. I was worried about if they came out and he continued to attack us.”

Mr Treadwell said O’Neill had 13 previous convictions for 21 offences, including five against the person, and others for arson and drink-driving.

Ryan Rothwell, defending, said the indecent exposure was out of character, and he had been guilty of reckless assaults. O’Neill was a full-time forklift driver who had been in employment for many years.

“He’s ashamed of what he has done,” declared the barrister. “The greatest mitigation was his guilty pleas.”

See this week’s Dwyfor edition, in shops and online now