A CAPEL Bangor man assaulted a pub landlord as trouble flared at a wake, a court has heard.

Dominic William Hamer, 26, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jason Hines, the landlord of the Victoria Inn, in Borth, on 18 November, but told police that he had been defending his friend after trouble started.

Prosecutor Rhian Jones said Hamer, of Hibernia, in Capel Bangor, had been at the pub for a wake for his friend’s grandfather, but that things had turned fractious later that evening when one of the group had been refused alcohol.

Ms Jones said Mr Hines had seen Hamer on CCTV going into the pub’s stock room and being rude toward staff earlier that evening, and that when trouble had started he had been trying to get upstairs when Hamer leaned over the stairs’ bannister and punched Mr Hines to the side of the jaw.

In an interview with police, Hamer admitted that he had been involved in an incident and was apologetic, but Ms Jones said Hamer claimed he hadn’t assaulted Mr Hines.

Defence solicitor Katy Hanson said there had been a larger incident in the pub following the “very emotional day”.

She said Hamer’s friend had been involved in an altercation and he was trying to help his friend and pull him away from trouble, but accepted that his actions had gone beyond self defence.

Ms Hanson said that Hamer, a scaffolder, had got involved with “the best of intentions” but things went too far.

Hamer was fined £300, but will also pay compensation of £20 to Mr Hines and costs totalling £115.

• Two other men accused of assaulting Mr Hines on the same day have pleaded not guilty to assault charges and will face a trial.

Joseph Dare, 28, of Hazelmere, High Street in Borth, and 47-year-old Paul John Thompson, of Pomona, High Street in Borth, have both entered not guilty pleas to assault.

They were both released on unconditional bail until a trial on 27 July.