Man jailed after spraying rival's door with fake snow and attacking him with horse-riding stirrups

After brawling in a pub last Christmas a man sprayed his rival’s front door with fake snow before going to his home and attacking him while armed with horse-riding stirrups. Dean Phillips, 26, went to the home of Colwyn Probert after the pair were involved in an altercation in the Three Mariners Inn, Tenby, south Wales, on December 27 last year. At Swansea Crown Court on Friday, Phillips was jailed for a year after he admitted assaulting Mr Probert causing him actual bodily harm.

A charge of causing criminal damage to Mr Probert’s front door by covering it in the fake snow was dropped. Phillips, of Pembroke Dock, was sentenced to four months for the attack on Mr Powell and eight months for breaches of suspended sentences for two other offences, one of which involved Mr Phillips walking through Pembroke with a machete. Nicola Powell, prosecuting, said on December 27 the pair were thrown out of the pub She said: “When Mr Probert got to his home in Tenby, he found his front door had been covered in what looked like paint but was in fact fake snow. A short distance away he noticed the defendant who asked to talk to him but Mr Probert told him to leave it until the following morning. Phillips replied: ‘No, we’re starting it now.’”



Mr Probert said he heard a 'jingle, jangle' noise and he noticed Phillips was carrying metal riding stirrups in his hands. She said Mr Colbert attempted to get away but stumbled in a garden and Phillips jumped on top of him. Ms Powell said: “The defendant shouted out ‘Now you’re scared of me.’” Phillips then punched Mr Colbert a number of times while holding the stirrups. She said Mr Probert shouted: “Help me, help me, he’s trying to kill me.” He was helped by neighbours and taken to hospital. After a medical examination, which involved a CT scan, he was found to have injuries including swelling to his eye and a wound to his leg though there were no broken bones.

Ms Powell said Phillips had a number of previous offences involving violence, dishonesty and criminal damage. James Jenkins, representing Phillips told the court: “The defendant knows it’s time to grow up.” He said his client did not set out to use the stirrups in this incident. “The stirrups may well have struck Mr Probert but the complainant was not beaten with the stirrups – if he had been he would still be bearing the scars to this day. The injuries to Mr Probert were essentially superficial, I do not wish to belittle them but they are what they are.” Mr Jenkins added the injuries suffered by Mr Probert would have been “formidable” if the stirrups had been used. The judge sentencing Phillips said although Phillips may not have meant to use the stirrups, the stirrups must have connected with Mr Probert.