A teenage party-goer ‘saw red’ and smashed a sign the morning after, a court heard last week.

John Hywel Grinszpan, aged 19, of 12 Parc Ffos, Ffos y Ffin, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The court heard that an off duty police officer called for assistance after spotting Grinszpan shouting, swearing and thrashing a sign on the road at Gwenlli on August 3.

He became verbally abusive when approached, but made full and frank admissions when interviewed by police.

Alan Lewis, defending, said: “It’s a peculiar offence in that it was not committed under the influence of alcohol.”

Mr Lewis told the court his client had lost money during a party the previous night, and he and his girlfriend were picked up by his mother that morning.

There was a discussion in the car about returning to the house, after Grinszpan found he had left something there, and he got out and grabbed the sign at the crossroads.

Mr Lewis said: “There were no threats of violence at all. He had no idea what the sign was. He saw red and lost his temper. He says he is usually a very calm person but something snapped.”

Grinszpan was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £40 contribution to court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.