‘Hoofing’ a door and assaulting a neighbour led a Narberth man getting his testicles grabbed and gaining a suspended prison sentence.

Carlon Craig, of Townmoor, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates for sentencing on Monday after pleading guilty to assault and criminal damage to two doors at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that Craig, 27, asked his neighbour Robert Young for help when he was unable to get into his flat after returning home on December 13.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “It was probably something to do with the fact that he was intoxicated. He could not get the key into the door.”

Craig then forced his door open by kicking it, and invited Mr Young inside, but quickly became abusive.

Mr Young turned to leave and felt a blow to the back of his head. Craig then grabbed him by the collar, pulled him backwards and pushed him onto a sofa.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The defendant stood over him and punched him to the head a number of times.

“The complainant grabbed hold of Mr Craig’s testicles to distract him and managed to wriggle off the sofa and left the flat.”

Mr Young picked up a kitchen knife when Craig appeared in his flat a short time later, and told him to get out or he would defend himself.

The bench heard that Craig also kicked his neighbour’s door, and Mr Young was left with a scratched and grazed face.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said that Mr Young, who had recently moved to the block of flats had mistakenly thought that Craig, who had consumed a ‘couple of cans’, was trying to break in on the night in question.

He added that there had been recent problems with the door, but ‘hoofing it open' was not the best way to deal with it.

“The two had words and blows were exchanged. Mr Craig was the aggressor. He had his testicles grabbed and was threatened with a knife, which the victim alleges was to defend himself.”

“It was an unpleasant incident, but a short incident in duration.”

The court heard that Craig was receiving ongoing treatment for mental health issues, and had ‘cleaned up his act’ in recent years.

Magistrates sentenced Craig to ten weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. They ordered £132 compensation to the landlord for door repairs and £100 to Mr Young.

Craig was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 surcharge.