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Teacher guilty of assaulting pupil on night out

Family photo Llyr Davies in white shirt smiling at the cameraFamily photo
Llyr Davies was part of a successful rugby team

A teacher has been found guilty of attacking a 16-year-old pupil in a town centre after a night out.

Llyr James, 31, denied assault by beating on Llyr Davies in Newcastle Emlyn on 9 March.

Giving evidence at Llanelli Magistrates' Court, he said an incident where he grabbed the boy was just a case of "mucking about".

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

James said Llyr was a "likeable character" at Ysgol Bro Teifi and he had known him since he started in Year 7.

The boy was part of a successful rugby team and always asked 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.

He "grabbed" him and "pushed him into the alleyway".

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

He added that he had a "light hearted" relationship with Llyr and they would "joke with each other".

He insisted there had been no argument and it was a case of "two people who were close just mucking about".

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

Teacher Llyr James pictured outside of court
Teacher Llyr James was found guilty of assault by beating

Prosecutor James Ashton said James's memory of the incident could have been "unclear" according to his police statement as he had drunk about eight or nine pints of cider.

CCTV was played in court and Mr Ashton said Llyr Davies had not consented to being "grabbed" but James insisted it was "horseplay".

Google Exterior of The Three Compasses pubGoogle
Llyr Davies had been with friends at The Three Compasses in Newcastle Emlyn before the assault

Witness Iestyn Evans, a childhood friend of James, had been drinking with him that evening and said he saw James talking to three young people about rugby.

He said one one boy appeared to be agitated, saying he wanted to "hit someone" but James was "calm".

Mr Ashton said James made a "beeline" for Llyr and "there was no banter".

He added: "If Llyr Davies hadn't died, he would surely have been able to tell you how he felt seeing a 30-year-old-man charging towards him shouting.

"Llyr Davies clearly didn't want this to happen."

James will be sentenced on 25 October.