A POWYS man who used “excessive self-defence” when coming to the aide of a taxi driver has been ordered to pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.

Paul Roderick was convicted after trial of assaulting Ashley Thomas-Smedley, causing him actual bodily harm, following an incident in Ystradgynlais on January 16, 2022.

The 47-year-old denied the offence, plus another of assaulting Anthony Aue, but was convicted of the ABH assault on Mr Thomas-Smedley following a trial at Merthyr Crown Court in May. He was acquitted of the assault on Mr Aue.

His sentencing hearing on Tuesday, July 4, heard Roderick, from Caehopkin, near Abercrave, was seen on CCTV footage “kicking and striking” his victim multiple times while on the floor.

“The complainant received a black eye and suffered injuries that required hospital treatment, and he lost consciousness for several minutes,” said prosecutor Georgia Donohue.

Representing Roderick, Giles Hayes, described the father-of-one as a “hard-working family man”.

“He has been acquitted of one offence and convicted of another, he accepts that,” said Mr Hayes.

“His behaviour was clearly unacceptable and he looks back on it with regret and remorse.”

His Honour Judge Wayne Beard told Roderick: “The video footage in this case demonstrates that you were persistent in your attack on a young man who was obviously smaller and weaker than you.

“The jury came to the conclusion you took self-defence too far. I take on board you at first thought you were protecting the taxi driver, but you were also personally motivated to obtain the taxi for yourself, so there were mixed motives.

“It was a violent episode that was out of character.”

Roderick was given a 12-month community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days.

He will pay a contribution to costs of £2,000 and must pay Mr Thomas-Smedley £1,000 compensation; he also has to pay a £95 surcharge.