A Wiston man assaulted and shouted abuse at elderly neighbours he blamed for his dogs being taken away.

William John Robert Bowen, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress and failing to comply with a community protection notice, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, July 3.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Bowen, 72, lived near Mr and Mrs Green, and blamed them after police took his dogs away.

“The police took his dogs off him some time ago, because the police were of the opinion that the conditions in the house were so disgusting they were not fit for the animals to remain there.”

Bowen went to the Greens’ home on May 14 and accused Barbara Green of making him lose his dogs and ruining his life.

The bench heard that he swore at her and called her ‘evil’, before returning ten minutes later to confront her 86 year-old husband about the same issue.

Mr Prichard-Jones said: “He was pulling his jumper and swung a number of punches at him. Most of them missed because it seems he was drunk. He fell over at one point.

“He managed to land one punch on Mr Green.”

Katy Hanson, defending, told the court that Bowen had a number of health difficulties including alcohol dependency, suffered PTSD as a result of serving in the forces, and was being supported by the local authority.

Magistrates heard that Bowen was currently subject to community behavioural order in place relating to Mr and Mr Green, and agreed to adjourn sentencing until August 2. Bowen was released on unconditional bail.