Soldier admits Montgomery spanner attack

A 25-year-old soldier from Cyfronydd, who was injured during a tour of Afghanistan, has admitted striking a man with a spanner during a brawl outside a Montgomery pub.

James Wilding said he assaulted Lee Jones outside the Crown after the men got involved in a fight between two women during the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The BBC reports that Mold Crown Court was told Wilding was seen going to his car and picking up the spanner before striking Jones on the head and body. He was given a 12-month community order which will involve 200 hours of unpaid work.

The judge said striking a man on the head with a weapon normally resulted in a jail term but he had taken various factors into consideration. They included being thrown out of the Army which would end the treatment Wilding received for physical and mental injuries suffered during duties in Afghanistan.