BIRTHDAY celebrations turned sour when a Cardigan man assaulted two police officers, a court heard last week.

Mark Lloyd Thomas Lewis, aged 39, of 5 Teifi Terrace, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty, when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates on Wednesday.

The court heard that police were called to a report of a fight in the beer garden of the Eagle Inn, Cardigan, on August 25.

Several people came out of the garden towards the officers, and the defendant walked towards them swearing and being abusive, and punched an officer on the nose.

As other officers tried to restrain him, Lewis continued to throw punches and one caught a PCSO in the face.

Alan Lewis defending said fortunately the officers only suffered minor injuries and his client showed genuine remorse and apologised to the officers.

Mr Lewis said: “It was his son’s 18th birthday celebration, it was soured by this incident. He came out and saw his son talking to the police and thought he was going to be arrested. He went over to intervene and made things ten times worse.”

He added: “He is deeply embarrassed by his actions.”

Magistrates fined Lewis £110 for each offence and ordered £50 compensation was paid to each officer.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a £20 victim surcharge.