After brawling in a pub last Christmas a man sprayed his rival’s front
door with fake snow before going to his home and attacking him while
armed with horse-riding stirrups.
Dean Phillips, 26, went to the home of Colwyn Probert after the pair
were involved in an altercation in the Three Mariners Inn, Tenby, south
Wales, on December 27 last year.
At Swansea Crown Court on Friday, Phillips was jailed for a year after
he admitted assaulting Mr Probert causing him actual bodily harm.
A charge of causing criminal damage to Mr Probert’s front door by
covering it in the fake snow was dropped.
Phillips, of Pembroke Dock, was sentenced to four months for the attack
on Mr Powell and eight months for breaches of suspended sentences for
two other offenses, one of which involved Mr Phillips walking through
Pembroke with a machete.
Nicola Powell, prosecuting, said on December 27 the pair were thrown out
of the pub
She said: “When Mr Probert got to his home in Tenby, he found his front
door had been covered in what looked like paint but was in fact fake
snow.
A short distance away he noticed the defendant who asked to talk to him
but Mr Probert told him to leave it until the following morning.
Phillips replied: ‘No, we’re starting it now.’”
Mr Probert said he heard a 'jingle, jangle' noise and he noticed
Phillips was carrying metal riding stirrups in his hands.
She said Mr Colbert attempted to get away but stumbled in a garden and
Phillips jumped on top of him.
Ms Powell said: “The defendant shouted out ‘Now you’re scared of me.’”
Phillips then punched Mr Colbert a number of times while holding the
stirrups.
She said Mr Probert shouted: “Help me, help me, he’s trying to kill me.”
He was helped by neighbors and taken to hospital.
After a medical examination, which involved a CT scan, he was found to
have injuries including swelling to his eye and a wound to his leg
though there were no broken bones.
Ms Powell said Phillips had a number of previous offenses involving violence, dishonesty and criminal damage.
James Jenkins, representing Phillips told the court: “The defendant knows it’s time to grow up.”
He said his client did not set out to use the stirrups in this incident.
“The stirrups may well have struck Mr Probert but the complainant was not beaten with the stirrups –
if he had been he would still be bearing the scars to this day.
The injuries to Mr Probert were essentially superficial, I do not wish
to belittle them but they are what they are.”
Mr Jenkins added the injuries suffered by Mr Probert would have been
“formidable” if the stirrups had been used.
The judge sentencing Phillips said although Phillips may not have meant
to use the stirrups, the stirrups must have connected with Mr Probert.
