Teacher who assaulted pupil on night out sentenced

A teacher who assaulted his 16-year-old pupil on a night out has been sentenced.

Llyr James, 31, denied arguing with pupil Llyr Davies, but was found guilty of beating him in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, on 9 March.

Llyr Davies died three days after the incident, in Ceredigion, in a separate incident which was not related.

Following a trial at Llanelli Magistrates' Court heard James was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of £764.

James said he had known Llyr Davies since he started at Ysgol Bro Teifi in Year 7 and described him as a "likeable character", Llanelli Magistrates' Court heard.

He was Llyr's PE teacher at the time, and coached the school’s rugby teams.

According to James, his former pupil was keen for advice on how to improve as a player.

James had been playing for Newcastle Emlyn RFC on 9 March and spotted Llyr out with friends later that night.

CCTV footage showed him running across the road and grabbing Llyr, before pushing him into a nearby alleyway.

Magistrates said the incident was an "unprovoked assault" and Llyr Davies had been "unlawfully assaulted".

James said he wanted to explain his frustration that Llyr was going to miss an "unforgettable opportunity" to play rugby at the Principality Stadium due to his poor attendance at school and training.

James told the court they had a "light hearted" relationship and would "joke with each other".

Prosecutor James Ashton said James' memory of the incident could have been "unclear" due to alcohol intake.

James admitted to drinking 8 or 9 pints of cider on the day of the incident.

He first heard of an assault allegation against him the following Wednesday - the day after Llyr died in an incident at a quarry - and he was suspended from his job on the Friday.

During the sentencing hearing, James' solicitor, Mair Williams, said her client had "suffered a mental punishment" while being interviewed by police.

Llyr died at Gilfach quarry near Efailwen on the 12th March and the court heard there was no link between his death and the assault in Newcastle Emlyn.

James had not been told by police, at the time, that there was no link between the assault in Newcastle Emlyn and the incident and death of Llyr at the quarry, three days later.

Ms Williams told the court James "was not the type of person who would normally appear before the court" and maintained there was "no malice" in his actions.

She said James had "shown remorse" and had not drunk any alcohol since the incident.

Ms Williams also case added the "could not have happened at a worse time" as James had recently become a father.

James was found guilty of assault by beating earlier this month.

He has been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work over 20 days with the local Drugs and alcohol service, which will focus on alcohol use.

The community order will remain in place until the 24th April, 2026.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £764.