A MAN admitted punching a member of staff during a wedding reception, a court heard.

Appearing at North Wales Magistrates’, Phillip Bennett, 41, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating and one of possessing cocaine following the incident at Tyn Dwr Hall in Llangollen on July 4.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said police officers received a call at around 11.20pm following reports that a wedding guest had punched a member of staff.

The victim, Andrew Carter, had been trying to calm down a guest who was described as being “aggressive and threatening” and had offered to call him a taxi.

But instead Bennett, of Pen y Coed Road, Burntwood, threw a punch at Mr Carter, cutting his eye and nose and causing his glasses to dig into his flesh. When officers arrived, they searched Bennett and found he had small wrap of white powder on him which was later identified as cocaine.

Mr Espie read out a short victim impact statement from Mr Carter who said: “you don’t expect this sort of thing to happen at a wedding.”

Emma Simmoes, defending, said her client was “not proud of his actions” and was “very remorseful”.

She said Bennett, who works as a glazier, had been attending his cousin’s wedding and had consumed a “vast amount” of alcohol during the day and the evening.

Bennett was fined £500 for the assault and £500 for possession of cocaine.

He will also pay £200 compensation to Mr Carter, a victim surcharge of £50 and court costs of £85. An exclusion order banning Bennett from the venue for six months was also imposed.