The new year began with an arrest and a hospital visit when a Tenby reveller was assaulted by a complete stranger.

Dean James, of Heol Bryn Gwyn, Penywaun, Aberdare, pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday.

The court heard that James Davies was hit while dancing in The Three Mariners, after watching fireworks while celebrating New Year’s Eve in Tenby with friends. He was hit over the head with force and fell to the floor where he was struck in the ribs.

Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, said: “He received several blows with a lot of force. Each strike caused a great deal of pain.”

James was pulled away by Mr Davies’ friends and bouncers, and the victim attended A&E the following day.

A victim impact statement was read to the court: “The incident has played on my mind and affected the way I socialise.

“I have thought about how this could have gone badly wrong and my son could have been left without a father.”

James, 41, told police he was seeing in the new year with his girlfriend and admitted giving Mr Davies a ‘slap’ stating he was being a ‘pain’.

Miss Morgan added: “He said he had been a nuisance and propositioned his girlfriend.

“He says there was a scuffle and he took him to the floor and punched him a couple of times.”

Mark Layton, defending, told the court that CCTV appeared to show Mr Davies goading James, who had previously been enjoying a pleasant evening with his girlfriend.

“He came across Mr Davies, whose behaviour towards his partner annoyed Mr James, who hit him.”

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £200 compensation to Mr Davies.

He will also pay £85 court costs and a £85 surcharge.