A Narberth man was told in court this week that his behaviour was unacceptable after he admitted using threatening and abusive behaviour towards another male who confronted him about urinating in public.
Fifty-three-year-old Paul McNally, of High Street, pleaded guilty to a charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the incident occurred on August 18, when the complainant was with his son in Pembroke, and witnessed Mr. McNally standing six feet away from them urinating on the floor.
When the complainant spoke to him and said he shouldn’t be doing that as they were near a park and there were children around, Mr. McNally responded by threatening to knock the other male’s ‘head off his shoulders’ after claiming he had been labelled a ‘paedophile’ by the complainant.
“Mr. McNally is alleged to have then thrown a clenched fist towards the face of the complainant, who was too quick, and grasped the defendant’s hand and put him in a thumb lock before letting go.
“The defendant is then said to have poured a bottle of water onto the ground to dilute where he urinated,” continued Mr. Pritchard-Jones.
Magistrates heard how two female members of the public walked by when the incident was taking place and pointed out to Mr. McNally that he shouldn’t be using foul language when there were children about.
Mr. McNally responded by stating that the complainant was “lucky he was not in the river with blood on his head, as he needed a good kicking.”
“The complainant’s son managed to capture some of the incident on his mobile phone too. Police arrived and Mr. McNally was arrested,” he added.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that this was an argument between two people, not helped by the complainant falsely calling his client a ‘paedophile’.
“This is not acceptable behaviour either from the other party, but Mr. McNally accepts that things got out of hand, and that words were exchanged on both sides.
“It’s a very confused situation, as both parties ended up phoning the police, but when they arrived, it was Mr. McNally who was arrested.
“My client doesn’t accept everything that the prosecution has said, but no doubt the victim wouldn’t accept everything we have said either,” added Mr. Kelleher.
Magistrates told Mr. McNally that his behaviour was not acceptable, before fining him £40 for the offence and ordering him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and £30 victim surcharge.