A man who was cleared of a robbery charge admitted alternative charges of assault and theft of a mobile phone.

At Mold Crown Court, Geraint Pierce, 40, of Lay Farm, Chirk, received a suspended prison sentence.

Pierce, who also admitted two other charges of common assault, one against his former wife, received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was made the subject of a two month curfew between 9pm and 6am at his sister’s home, which Judge Rhys Rowlands said would keep him indoors over Christmas and would help his resolve not to drink and get into trouble.

The judge said Pierce had previous convictions but nothing for violence until this year.

But he had been involved in three separate incidents of assault which had led to him being remanded in custody and he had been sentenced to 18 weeks by local magistrates.

He would have been released last week but for the present proceedings.

His plea to assault and theft had been accepted as alternatives to robbery.

Ceri Evans, defending, said that his client was determined to tackle his alcohol issues which had led him to commit offences recently.

Prosecuting barrister James Coutts told how on Sunday, August 28 the defendant’s ex wife Gill Pierce hosted a children’s birthday party at a community centre in Chirk.

The defendant was there and left, but when he returned he was abusive to her and to another lady at the party.

As the guest was about to leave, he ran towards her screaming “Give me your phone” and she described him having a crazy look about him.

He began wrestling with her trying to get her phone from her. She had it in one hand and a child balanced on her hip supported by the other hand.

The defendant pushed her to the chest. Others tried to intervene, but were assaulted too. 

The phone which had been taken was later returned, the court was told.