Nasty text messages were sent after a Penally man was tagged in a ‘disgusting’ online video.

Benjamin James, of Penally, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Wednesday, April 24.

James, 43, pleaded guilty to sending threatening text messages to cause distress or anxiety.

Dennis Davies, prosecuting, said the complainant received texts containing threats, unpleasant names and foul language and referred to a video on October 7.

One of the messages stated: “You are the scum of the earth, the bottom of the sewer with the rats.

"Keep looking behind you because you never know when someone will take you down.”

Mr Davies said: “He accepted sending the messages and that they were nasty.”

James stated he had sent the messages because he was really angry about something he had discovered on social media.

Mr Davies added: “The victim was quite insulted and upset to have received such text messages.”

David Elvy, defending, told the court that James had come across a video online that he had been tagged in, showing the complainant doing ‘something extremely private’.

James assumed the man had posted the video himself.

Mr Elvy said: “He saw the video and thought it was disgusting. He was very upset that his name was associated with it.

“He tried to delete it and was unable to. He reported it to the police.”

Mr Elvy added: “Later on he became drunk, he ruminated on what he had seen and reacted to the video and sent the messages. He regrets sending that message.”

“He saw something that he thought was disgusting and illegal. He contacted the police and then took matters into his own hands.”

James was ordered to pay £195 made up of a fine, costs and a surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “While your intentions may have been laudable, the effect was not. You should have left the police to do their job.”