A MAN who punched his neighbour has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service.
Eifion Wynne Hughes, 41, of Penstrowed, was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm at a trial at Welshpool Magistrates Court.
Margaret Roberts, prosecuting, said the incident had taken place on May 23. Mrs Roberts said that Hughes had become involved in an argument with his neighbour Naill Foord, while the pair were stood in their respective gardens.
The incident had resulted in Mr Foord swearing at Hughes who told him to ‘come here and say that’.
Mr Foord called the landlord, Mr Morgan, to request that he come to the properties to help sort the matter out.
At 6pm Mr Morgan arrived at Penstrowed and met Mr Foord at the garage forecourt. Mr Foord telephoned Hughes and asked him to come outside and meet them.
Mrs Roberts said that when Hughes arrived he was agitated and a heated exchange had followed. She said he hit Mr Foord who fell to the ground before Mr Morgan intervened, telling Hughes he was ‘a bloody idiot’ and would now face an assault charge.
Mr Foord suffered bruising around the eye from the punch along with a lacerated cheek which required five stitches inside his mouth and three outside.
Robert Hanratty, mitigating, said that Hughes was a responsible tenant and a hard working family man.
Hughes was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 80 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay £620 costs.