A WORKING trip by the seaside landed a roofer from Wrexham in court and led to him losing his job after he lashed out at two men and smashed a nightclub door.

Robin David George claimed he punched a man he thought had attacked him in the toilets at the Why Not Lounge in Aberystwyth, but it proved to be a case of mistaken identity, North East Wales magistrates were told.

His victim, James Clarke, suffered a lump to his left eye and bruising after he was hit by George who then took his anger out on the door of a property as he left the club.

Another unsuspecting victim, Nathaniel Pidcock, was the next to feel George’s wrath as he was punched to the left ear by the irate visitor who had been staying over in Aberystwyth while he working on a contract in Tywyn.

Mr Pidcock suffered bruising above his eye and his ear was left swollen and bleeding.

But George himself was not unscathed and prosecutor Justin Espie told the Mold court: “He (George) was taken from Aberystwyth Police Station and then on to hospital because he had severe swelling to his hands and knuckles.”

After he was arrested George confirmed he had attacked Mr Clarke as he was convinced he had punched him in the face in the club's toilets, but he said he could not remember assaulting Mr Pidcock outside the club or smashing the door.

“He was extremely intoxicated after drinking double vodkas and Red Bull,” said Leah Cosgrave, of the Probation Service.

“After leaving the nightclub he can’t remember anything, but he accepts responsibility for the door and assaulting the second victim.

“He was sacked by his boss after he learnt of the incident.”

George, 36, of Wern Las, Rhos, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and criminal damage on March 6.

Emma Carlisle, defending, noted George was “no stranger to the courts or prison”, but that his last conviction for assault had been eight years ago.

“His partner has told him he needed to be a role model for his children and he has said to me 'Quite frankly I have let them down',” said the solicitor.

“He was working away and while he is not normally a heavy drinker he was away from his usual responsibilities and family life and got himself in quite a state.

“He wrongly believed Mr Clarke had hit him and he took out his frustration on the door and then got involved in an altercation with Mr Pidcock.

“He is genuinely sorry for what he has done.”

Magistrates told George he would be electronically tagged while he served out a three-month curfew between 10pm and 7am and they banned him from the Aberystwyth club for two years.

They also told him to attend 19 sessions of a Thinking Skills course as part of an 18-month community sentence which includes 28 rehabilitation activity days to help address his anger issues.

George was ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of his victims and £370 in lieu of the damage to the door as well as combined costs and a victim surcharge of £170.