A WEDDING reception descended into chaos after the bride's stepbrother hit another guest with a chair, leaving him unconscious.
Mark Taylor, 28, was a guest at a wedding being held in a marquee on land at Middle Hill Farm, Kidwelly with his wife Julia.
Taylor, the bride's stepbrother, had been drinking all day when an argument led to "frayed tempers" between guests, prosecuting barrister Patrick Griffiths told Swansea Crown Court.
Victim Anthony Morris, aged 39, was also a guest at the wedding but said he had no memory of the incident which left him unconscious.
Police had to compile a report from other witnesses.
At around 11.30pm on July 1, Mr Morris and the groom, Wayne Hughes, had become involved in a scuffle and as Morris was "flailing" his arms around he struck Taylor's wife to her face or neck.
"It doesn't seem that was a deliberate blow," said Mr Griffiths.
"She wasn't injured in a visible sense but as a result of his wife being struck was hit to the head, the defendant then picked up a chair and struck Mr Morris with it," added Mr Griffiths. He said it was a "significant" blow to Mr Morris's head which caused him to fall backwards and he was bleeding "profusely" from his face.
Mr Griffiths said it was not clear if the chair had either been thrown through the air or smashed over his head.
Injury
Mr Morris needed hospital treatment and continues to be affected as a result of the injury, the court heard.
He said he could only now sleep upright. He said his work as a window fitter had also been affected as he could no longer wear goggles because of his injury.
John Hipkin, representing Taylor of Cornwall, who admitted assault, said his client was trying to defend his wife after she was struck.
"This defendant was in drink in a way that cannot be excused but can, at least from a male point of view, can be understood," he said.
Recorder John Jenkins imposed a 12- month community order, told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £750 compensation.
