A DRUNKEN coward who punched a woman outside a pub has been ordered by a Judge to part with more than £4,000 for his behaviour.

Graham Dowry, of Keats Close in Hawarden, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Monday for sentence.

The 36-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, told the court that on March 12 last year, Lauren Eldred had been out in Hawarden with her partner Clive Ogden.

They went to the Fox and Grapes pub, where a dispute took place between Ogden and Dowry.

Things seemed to calm down, but a short while later the confrontation between the two men became physical, with bystanders attempting to separate and restrain them both.

Despite their efforts however, the pubgoers failed and a scuffle between Dowry and Ogden ensued.

Dowry ended up being punched to the floor by Ogden, who then stamped on him.

As Dowry got back up, Ms Eldred attempted to keep him away from his partner - but he struck her to the head twice and grabbed her hair.

He dragged her around and wouldn't let go for a time.

Later, Ms Eldred and Ogden left the pub and intended to walk home - but Dowry "still hadn't had enough," Mr Mainstone said.

He and another male followed them and confronted them in the street, with Dowry punching Ms Eldred to the temple and causing her to fall when she once again tried to intercept him.

She was left with inflammation to one of her eyes, as well as bruising and facial swelling, as a result of the attacks.

In her victim personal statement, Ms Eldred said the attack had affected her mental health.

It is constantly "in the back of my mind," she added.

For his part in the affray at the pub, 37-year-old Ogden received a suspended sentence.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, invited the court to draw back from an immediate custodial sentence.

He added: "[Dowry is] thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour, as he should be because of the way he behaved that night.

"He has accepted he was intoxicated when he committed the offence and has taken voluntary action to abstain from consuming alcohol.

"If he is sent to prison, he will lose his job and that will have a huge impact on his whole family.

"He's very fearful of that."

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "[This was] an incident in which you demonstrates real persistence, culminating in your punching a woman to her face and dragging her by the hair.

"You wouldn't let matters go. You refused to - and that's all down to you being very drunk.

"It's shocking to the court to see you attack a woman in the way you did.

"It was cowardly. She was doing nothing other than trying to prevent you getting at her partner."

He added: "As a result of this you sustained quite serious injury - but you were largely the author of your own misfortune."

The Judge said it was "not without some misgivings" that he was persuaded to draw back from immediate custody as there was a prospect of rehabilitation.

He handed down a 15 month custodial term, but suspended it for two years.

Dowry was ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to Ms Eldred, a £2,500 fine and £720 costs.

A restraining order of five years was imposed.