FORMER Ysgol Dyffryn teacher, Llyr James, has been found guilty of assaulting 16-year-old Llyr Davies in an incident in Newcastle Emlyn town centre.

Three days after the attack – on the afternoon of 12 March – Llyr died in a separate incident when a tipper truck reportedly slipped down a slope into the Eastern River Cleddau in the Efailwen area of Clynderwen.

This week, Llanelli magistrates heard how the teacher ‘grabbed’ the child and ‘pushed him into an alleyway’ in Newcastle Emlyn on the night of 9 March.

Giving evidence, James said he wanted to explain his frustration that Llyr Davies, a talented rugby player, was going to miss an opportunity to play rugby at the Principality Stadium due to his poor attendance at both school and rugby training.

However, James stated that there had been no argument between him and the student.

“It was a case of two people who were close, just mucking about,” he said.

However, Crown Prosecutor James Ashton said James’ memory could have been unclear, as, according to his police statement, he had consumed eight or nine pints of cider that night.

Mr Ashton added that James made ‘a beeline’ for Llyr and there was no banter between them.

A 17-year-old witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he heard screaming on the street and saw Llyr being dragged by Mr James, whom he described as “crazy”, with his “eyes popping out of his head.”

Three days later, Llyr Davies died in a separate incident.

The first time the defendant heard of the assault allegation was the day after Llyr Davies’ death.

James was suspended from his job at Ysgol Bro Teifi on the Friday of the same week.

He will be sentenced by Llanelli magistrates on October 25.

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A LOVER’S tiff resulted in a court appearance this week after a man fled from a property when his partner threw household items at his head.

But when Jonathan Langston called the police to inform them of his situation, he was stopped by officers less than a mile from his property, and found to be over the legal drink-drive limit.

“He had no intention of driving, but he’d had items thrown at him and was told to leave,” said his solicitor, Michael Kelleher.

Langston, 36, phoned the police to explain what was going on and officers apprehended his vehicle on the B4585 at Manorbier at around 10am on September 23.  A roadside breath test proved positive, and subsequent intoximeter tests showed he had 41 mcg of alcohol in his system.  The legal limit is 35.

Crown Prosecutor Nia James told magistrates that when arrested, Langston told officers, “I’d never have driven if I hadn’t had s*** thrown at me.”

Meanwhile Michael Kelleher said the defendant drives around 40,000 miles a year as a self-employed layer of resin floors.

“As a result of what’s happened, he’s now going to be unemployed,” he said.

Langston, who gave his address to the court as Brynbrain Road, Cwmllynfell, Swansea pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving.  He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.