A Welshpool man punched and kicked a restaurant worker in the ribs during a brawl over a female friend, a court heard.

Niles Taylor, 19, pleaded guilty to both charges of assault by beating and possession of cannabis when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, April 6.

The court heard that Taylor punched, kicked and placed Daniel Brown in a headlock outside a Chinese restaurant in the town on February 19 this year.

At around 7pm, police received a report from the Chinese restaurant's owner and Mr Brown's landlord that one of his staff members had been assaulted.

Jim Neary, prosecuting, said: "Police officers were met by Mr Brown who had quite clearly been assaulted and was quite visibly upset."

The court heard that Mr Brown had been contacted by his ex-girlfriend earlier that day asking if she could stay in his flat after splitting up with her boyfriend. After arriving at the flat above the restaurant – which was not named in court – she changed her mind and asked Mr Brown to take her things to a taxi.

Mr Neary added: "He took the items downstairs and when he went outside the restaurant, he saw the defendant in the restaurant's shop floor.

"As he left the front door the defendant started to punch and wrestle him. He felt a kick to the ribs when he was down. He got up and was punched by the defendant in the ribs. This went on for about two minutes."

In a statement, Mr Brown said: "I didn't fight back, I was scared. I didn't know what was going on.

"I don't know why he did this or why he got involved. I've known Niles for many years.

"This attack was unprovoked. It made me scared to go out thinking that he might jump on me again."

Defending, Robert Hanratty told the court that Taylor accepted that an incident happened but that he did not accept Mr Brown's full account.

"He made a full and frank admission and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was unhappy with Mr Brown's behaviour towards a young lady.

"He confronted him, and when he saw him he accepts that he lost his temper and got into a brawl."

Magistrates then heard from probation officer Julian Davies, who said that Taylor had received a phone call from Mr Brown asking him if he could come over to the flat and look after a female friend.

"When Taylor got there, he found the female friend standing out in the rain. He felt very angry and emotional at what he perceived that she had been treated.

"He accepts that he dealt the situation in an inappropriate way."

Chair of magistrates Nerys Jones told Taylor: "We rarely feel that someone deserves less than a community order. But in terms of the offence of assault, you will be fined.

"No compensation will be awarded due to the fact that it would inflame matters and make things worse."

Taylor, of Salop Road was ordered to pay a £511 fine which included £196 for an early guilty plea, £196 for cannabis possession, and £34 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

The chair also ordered the forfeit and destruction of the gram of herbal cannabis.