A PENSIONER who was walking his dog was attacked by a teen on a path, a court has heard.

Swansea Crown Court heard Ethan Bartlett kicked, punched and spat at the 72-year-old after an altercation between the pair.

The incident is said to have taken place on the towpath of the canal between Trebanos and Pontardawe on July 21.

The court heard that the then teen had a bag of dog poo thrown at him following the altercation.

David Singh, prosecuting, said the 72-year-old victim was walking his dog on the path when he encountered the defendant and two females. The pensioner challenged Bartlett after he was heard to say: "If that dog doesn't move it will be in the canal".

The altercation turned physical with the pensioner throwing a bag of dog poo at Bartlett and Bartlett punching and kicking his victim and spitting at him.

Mr Singh said the pensioner was left dazed and suffering with cuts, bruises, and soreness all over his body.

An impact statement by the victim was read to court. It said the experience had left him felling concerned about going out.

Bartlett, of Swansea Road, Pontardawe, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared in the dock via videolink from prison for sentencing.

The 20-year-old has seven previous convictions for 12 offences including a series of assaults which have seen him punching or spitting at people including a police officer, a 13-year-old-girl, a woman, and one of his former teachers. At the time of the canal assault he was subject to a suspended sentence imposed in October 2019 for attacking a man with learning difficulties. He also has a caution for an assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hywel Davies, for Bartlett, said his client was taking steps to address his misuse of drugs and "bitterly regrets" his actions on the day in question.

The judge sentenced him to 12 months in prison and also activated two months of the previously-imposed suspended sentence to run consecutively. Bartlett will serve up to half the 14-month period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.