A MAN from Connah's Quay punched his friend in the face several times during a row at a Chester pub.

Scott Jackson, 30, of Brookdale Avenue, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, May 17 to assaulting Christopher Gibson in The Square Bottle on Foregate Street in the early hours of of April 28.

When police came to arrest Jackson a short time later at the nearby Revolution bar, Jackson's friend Ben Randles, 26, of St Mark's Avenue, Connah's Quay, was also arrested for being "extremely aggressive" with officers.

Jackson was handed a 12-month community order, to include a 12-week 7pm-7am tagged curfew, and told to pay £100 compensation to Mr Gibson, while Randles was fined £120.

Prosecuting, Natalie Cassidy said Mr Gibson had come to Chester from Buckley to meet Jackson and Randles, and sat at a table at The Square Bottle.

But what had started as a social occasion turned into a verbal argument, with Jackson asking Mr Gibson why "he was staring at him like that".

The court heard Mr Gibson said he had been punched four times while he tried to cover his face.

Door staff intervened and removed Jackson from the pub and police were called.

Mr Gibson received a cut above his right eye and there was swelling.

Miss Cassidy said when officers attended Revolution nightclub, Randles was aggressive and officers felt they "had no choice but to use incapacitant spray on him".

During police interview, Jackson believed he had hit Mr Gibson but could not remember, and said he was very drunk.

Jackson had two previous convictions, one for drink-driving and one for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Randles had seven convictions for 10 previous offences, including threatening behaviour and affray.

Adam Antoszkiw, defending Jackson, said he had made a prompt guilty plea and was too embarrassed to see the CCTV evidence.

Jackson could offer no explanation for his "unacceptable" actions.

Mr Gibson's statement said there had never been any trouble before between them, while Jackson did not have any previous convictions for assault.

Ian Barnes, defending Randles, said he was on probation having been released from custody and for the "first time in a long time he is making genuine efforts to make a positive contribution to society".

Randles had taken on a voluntary role at a tyre fitter and was taking on jobs for family and friends.

His family were supportive of him and he had started a relationship, and upon his release from custody he had realised alcohol was a problem for him so took the decision not to drink.

The incident had happened on his 26th birthday and he had drunk too much that night, and has not drunk since.

He accepted he should not have got involved.

A probation report heard Randles had received a two-year sentence in February 2018 and was currently out on licence. He had been given a warning following this offence, which he had told a probation officer about the following Monday morning.

He expressed regret and remorse for his actions.

As well as the fine, Randles must pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.