Man who attacked two friends jailed for 50 weeks
A man who launched an unprovoked attack on two friends as they were walking to get a lift home after a night out has been jailed for 50 weeks.
Neil Ahearne attacked Brice Doyle and Sam Williams near the Flying Shuttle pub in Newtown, punching both men.
Mr Doyle was struck in the jaw and in the head before Mr Williams was hit in the chest causing him to fall to the ground, Welshpool Magistrates Court was told.
The two victims have both suffered emotional trauma since the attack on February 14, the court heard.
Ahearne, 39, of Llys Egwlys in Newtown, had previously admitted the assaults and had also admitted breaching a suspended sentence which was imposed by magistrates in Montgomery last year for a breach of a restraining order.
Mr Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: "He punched Mr Doyle to the jaw and then swung another punch. Mr Doyle ran but dropped his bag. He went to pick it up but Ahearne was there as well and punched him to the head again.
"He ran to Mr Williams and said 'You're next', then punched him to the chest. He then said he was going to get his friends in a van to get Mr Doyle and Mr Williams."
Miss Ceri Edwards, for Ahearne, said: "He is sorry. He had received a message from an ex-partner saying he was never going to see his child again. The message tipped him over the edge."
Magistrates told Ahearne that the offence was so serious that it demanded an immediate custodial sentence. He was jailed for 22 weeks for the assault, two weeks for breaching the suspended sentence, and 26 weeks of the suspended sentence were activated, making a total of 50 weeks in prison.
