THREE men who threatened a taxi driver and assaulted a Spar security guard during an early morning incident in Aberystwyth have been ordered to pay compensation to the victims.

Nicholas Roy Holden, 46, of Basement Flat, 15 Custom House Street in Aberystwyth; Thorn Jareth Robertson, 26, of Caravan 3, Mynachty Home Farm in Pennant; and 22-year-old Oscar Williams, of Workshop Flat, 1 Rocklands in Aberystwyth, all pleaded guilty to assault on Spar security officer Christopher Evans and disorderly behaviour toward a taxi driver.

Holden also pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a police officer.

Rhian Jones, prosecuting, said the incident happened in the early hours of 23 November when the three men were seen by Mr Evans getting into an altercation with a taxi driver.

The taxi driver had parked outside the Spar store at around 4am, and Holden told him to move his car.

The driver told Holden “don’t wind me up”, but said the three then “went mad” and started trying to punch him through the taxi window.

He locked the door as he thought they might try and drag him out of the car, but Ms Jones said Robertson was then seen to lift up a drain cover and hold it up, leading the taxi driver to think he was going to throw it at the car.

Mr Evans tried to calm the situation down, but the three men all ended up pushing him in the incident, which they accepted was assault. Ms Jones said it was accepted that Mr Evans had not suffered any injury.

Whilst in custody, Holden spat at a police officer and, when asked why he’d done it, said: “Sorry mate”.

Williams was dealt with at an earlier hearing and was fined £180, ordered to pay compensation to Mr Evans of £50 as well as £50 to the taxi driver and costs of £230.

Robertson’s solicitor, Janem Jones, said Robertson regretted the incident and had said he would not be drinking again as it gets him in trouble.

She added: “The whole incident was a medley of people behaving inappropriately.”

Alan Lewis, representing Holden, said Holden had been homeless at the time, but had since found accommodation.

Mr Lewis said that Holden had initially tried to calm down the other two men, but had misread the situation and was sorry for what had happened.

Holden was given a community order for a year with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a thinking skills programme. He will pay compensation of £50 each to Mr Evans, the taxi driver and police officer he spat at, a fine of £50 and costs of £285.

Robertson was given a 12-month order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a thinking skills programme and 50 hours of unpaid work.

He will also pay compensation of £50 to Mr Evans and the taxi driver, and costs of £285.