Magistrates in Haverfordwest pulled no punches this week when dealing with a local boxing coach who breached the terms of his licence, by sending him back to jail after he pleaded guilty to an assault that took place on a Tenby nightclub’s dance floor earlier this year.

Thirty-eight-year-old Mark Stephen Davies, of Churchhill Close, Tenby, was informed by the probation service at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday that a recall to prison would be going ahead, with the defendant taken into custody until the end of his licence period which runs until 2020.

Mr. Davies the head coach at Tenby Sharks Boxing Club who has been in the news recently after launching an appeal to find a new permanent venue for the club to train, was handed a lengthy prison sentence back in 2013 for his role in a major conspiracy to supply cocaine worth over £30,000 in Pembrokeshire.

The defendant, formerly of The Green, Pembroke, admitted conspiring to supply cocaine between August 2011 and June 2012, and was given a sentence of seven and a half years at Swansea Crown Court.

He appeared in court at Haverfordwest this week to admit a charge of assaulting Dominic Fecci in Tenby on March 11. Mr. Davies also pleaded guilty to a further charge of damaging a watch and mobile phone belonging to the complainant during the same incident.

Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that Mr. Davies and Mr. Fecci were known to each other and earlier on during the night of the assault, the complainant claimed that the defendant had tried to ‘intimidate’ him in one of Tenby’s pubs.

“Later on Mr. Fecci left the pub and went to the Prince of Wales night club, where he came across other people he knew, before the assault by Mr. Davies occurred,” explained Mr. Hussain.

“He said whilst he was on the dance floor, he felt pressure to the back of his head, and felt a number of punches to the left side of his head. He put his arms up to protect himself, but further punches were thrown by Mr. Davies.

“Door security staff described the incident when they came over as seeing Mr. Fecci cowering on the dance floor with someone unknown to them towering over and punching him, before they pulled the defendant off and the incident came to an end,” continued Mr. Hussain who told the court that there was ‘history between the two parties’.

The victim was taken to Withybush Hospital after the assault as he complained of severe headaches and neck pain, stating that he had lost consciousness and suffered bruising to his face.

Mr. Fecci was later discharged by medical staff and given pain killers.

During the assault, damage was caused to his watch and mobile phone too.

In a ‘victim impact statement’ given to police and read to the court by Mr. Hussain -Mr. Fecci said that Mr. Davies was a trained boxer and if he had done the same thing to someone smaller, he could have killed them.

He said that it was an unprovoked attack and the defendant had come at him from behind.

“Mr. Fecci went on to say that he is now ‘constantly looking over his shoulder’, as Mr. Davies ‘obviously didn’t need a reason’ to attack him.

“He said that he was ’too scared’ to go back to his flat, as he believed that ‘Mark would come for him’ again.

“He also explained that he had lost five days pay after being off work due to the injuries sustained from the assault,” continued Mr. Hussain, who told the court that Mr. Davies also had a previous conviction for an offence of a similar nature back in 2002.

Defending Mr. Davies, solicitor Anthony O’Connell said that his client had shown ‘regret and remorse’ following the incident.

“This appears to be an isolated incident that took place back in March, and the court can take comfort that there has been nothing else since then,” he said.

“Seemingly the door staff at the club didn’t see the original punches thrown, just the defendant on the floor. There was no ongoing fight, but Mr. Davies accepts that he should have just walked away.

“Earlier in the evening he’d had a drink spat on his back and he believed it might have been the complainant who did it.

“Mr. Davies is a boxing coach who recently opened a charity club in Tenby. If it had been proper boxing punches thrown, then it’s likely that the injuries to the victim would be more significant then the ones you’ve been shown in the photos,” continued Mr. O’Connell who added that his client had also recently opened up a barber shop business in the town called UpperKutz.

Magistrates asked the probation service for more information on the defendant and an ‘all options’ report, stating it was such a ‘serious offence’ paired with the fact that Mr. Davies was still on licence for his previous drug supplying sentence.

After adjourning the matter, Mr. Davies was informed by the probation service and magistrates that he would be recalled to prison, and he was taken into custody.

Magistrates also imposed a further 12 week prison sentence, to be served concurrently, for the assault. The defendant was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.