A 20-year-old man from New Hedges punched a shop window in Pembroke’s Main Street, as it was better than punching a girl, a court heard this week.

Scott James Cowan, of Twy Cross, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday

Prosecutor, Mr. Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court how £900 worth of damage was caused to a 10ft x 8ft window belonging to Robinsons Premier Store on July 12, by the defendant.

“Mr. Cowan went out that evening, and between 2.30 and 3 am, he was walking Main Street, and for some unknown reason he started punching the window on numerous occasions, causing the glass to glaze and crack,” he explained.

When arrested, Mr. Cowan told police that he could not remember punching the window as he was drunk, but accepted it was him when shown CCTV footage by the police.

He also told officers “I punched the window as it was better than punching a girl.”

Mr. Pritchard-Jones said Mr. Cowan had previous convictions for dangerous driving in 2012 and a public order offence in Tenby last year.

The defendant’s solicitor, Mr. Mike Kelleher, told the court that his client had been assaulted by two girls earlier that night, hence his comment about punching the window being better than punching a girl.

Magistrates fined Mr. Cowan £260 for the criminal damage offence and ordered him to pay a £150 court charge, £85 prosecution costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

He was also ordered to pay £475 compensation to Robinsons Premier Store to replace the damaged glass.