A NEWTOWN man stormed out of court as he was being sentenced when he was ordered to pay compensation to his victims following a late night assault.

Father-of-four Daniel Jones assaulted Ellie Morris-Kirkham, Jake Poole and Kaine Robertson in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2022.

Jones, 36, had denied the assaults but changed his plea to guilty on the morning of his scheduled trial. Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday, March 7, that Jones maintained his guilty plea only on the basis that he had acted "excessively" in self-defence.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Ms Morris-Kirkham and Mr Poole had been returning to where they were staying at 3am, and as they passed the Spar Jones got into a conversation with Mr Poole.

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“Mr Poole then said to him ‘shut up’ and told him to go away," Ms Tench said. "The defendant then grabbed Jake Poole and threw him to the floor, he threw punches at him and Jake Poole punched him back."

A witness then saw him grab Ms Morris-Kirkham by the legs as she tried to walk away, Mrs Tench said, leaving her with a cut lip, causing her tooth to move.

“The defendant tried to continue the fight with Jake Poole and there was a scuffle on the floor," she said, adding that things calmed down and Jones began to walk alongside the group, before making comments about the women.

“He then snapped and there was a flurry of punches," Mrs Tench added. 

"He punched Ms Morris-Kirkham. Kane Robertson saw the friends and saw Jake Poole trying to calm the defendant down.

“He was sat on a wall then felt an arm came up from behind him and grab him to the floor, he couldn’t breathe.”

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Police were called and Jones was arrested, but said he had been the one who was attacked.

“He said he was walking home and an arm came at him, so he reacted to cover his head,” said Mrs Tench.

A statement was also provided by Mr Robertson, who said: “I’m not a fighter, I never have been.

"I am clueless as to who he is.”

Probation officer Julian Davies interviewed Jones, who said he had drunk eight pints and six shorts and had been having "a good night".

“The accounts drastically differ and he has showed little remorse," Mr Davies said. 

"He alleges he was the victim and one complainant assaulted him and the other two got involved.”

Mr Davies said Jones was on benefits, having been forced to give up a job as a lorry driver after suffering a fractured skull. He added that alcohol misuse is linked to his offending.

He said Jones was recently under a suspended sentence for perverting the course of justice, and that even though that sentence had elapsed, these offences put him in breach of that order - that matter has now been returned to the crown court.

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Acting for Jones, of Lon Helyg, Newtown, Owain Jones said: “The defendant, in effect, denies committing the offences, he says it was in self-defence.”

He showed the bench images of the injuries Jones suffered, including a cut lip and marks to his nose.

Jones was told to pay £150 compensation to Ms Morris-Kirkham and £100 each to Mr Poole and Mr Robertson – but as magistrates told him this Jones walked out of the courtroom.

He was also made the subject of an 18-month community order. He is subject to a daily curfew for the next three months. He must pay £300 costs.