A REVELLER launched an unprovoked attack on another man outside an Aberystwyth bar after getting caught up in the “volatile” atmosphere, a court heard.

Rory Jack Heslop, 21, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Connor MacGregor after he punched Mr MacGregor in the face outside the Why Not bar on 17 January 2015.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said Mr MacGregor had been out with friends in Aberystwyth and was outside the bar smoking when he saw an altercation involving a group of six or seven people.

Although Mr MacGregor didn’t know any of the people involved and didn’t try to intervene, Heslop was seen by witnesses to approach Mr MacGregor and punch him in the face in an unprovoked attack.

Mr MacGregor suffered a bloody and swollen nose and needed dental treatment to have a tooth capped as it had been chipped in the assault.

After punching Mr MacGregor, Heslop ran away, but was captured on CCTV and seen by witnesses.

Defence solicitor Geraint Jones told magistrates that Heslop, of 18 Doverton Drive, Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, had been in the area when there was trouble and that he had been pushed by somebody.

Heslop then lashed out and hit Mr MacGregor after he “lost his head”.

Mr Jones said: “It may be the person he lashed out at was not the one who pushed him, but the unfortunate victim.”

He added that there had been an “excitable atmosphere” which had led to scuffles and that Heslop had been caught up in things.

During the time of the assault, Heslop was on a community order, but magistrates heard that he had completed unpaid work before the attack.

Magistrates said they wanted a pre-sentence report before deciding how to sentence Heslop.

He was released on unconditional bail until a sentencing hearing on 3 February.