A POWYS man has been ordered to carry out a community-based punishment after he drunkenly shouted homophobic slurs at a male couple outside a railway station.

Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Dennis Roy Bowen was “ashamed” of his behaviour on July 12 last year.

Bowen appeared drunk and was holding a can of beer when he shouted insults at the men outside Llandrindod Railway Station on Waterloo Road.

Bowen, 54, who used to live in Powys but now resides in Ruthin, Denbighshire, admitted one charge of threatening behaviour at court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said that the incident occurred on the afternoon of July 12, 2022, when the victim was at the station sat with his partner on a bench. 

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“Their attention was drawn to a male carrying a can of beer,” said Mr Davies.

“They noticed the male seemed intoxicated, due to his behaviour. He said ‘people don’t like gays’, to which they took offence, they felt his behaviour was homophobic.

“He tried videoing the defendant, who then came up and tried to apologise, but he didn’t accept his apology.”

Police attended and arrested Bowen, who admitted making the comments about the couple.

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The court heard that Bowen, who represented himself, had handed in a letter to the magistrates, while he had also admitted the offence by post weeks earlier.

“At the time I had just come off medication that I had been on for 20 years, and doctors had put me on another one. It meant my judgement was totally inappropriate, I couldn’t string two sentences together,” said Bowen.

“I had relapsed into drinking alcohol, for which I have referred myself to Kaleidoscope. I am having therapy.

Magistrates heard from probation officer Donna Davies, who said Bowen, formerly of Llanwrtyd Wells, had recently completed a community order in relation to threatening a former neighbour.

Magistrates ordered Bowen to comply with a new 12-month community order, which will include 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days.