AN AMMAN Valley alcoholic celebrated the completion of his Behave or Be Banned antisocial drinking ban by getting “extremely drunk” and attacking a passer-by in the street, a court has been told.

Paul Quilligan, of 57 Pantyffynnon Road, went out drinking in Ammanford town centre with partner Julie Quilligan to mark the end of their six-month ban from all pubs and drinking establishments in the area on February 8.

Llanelli magistrates were told how the couple had become aggressive to a member of staff at the Taxi Shop onWind Street before turning on each other.

SianVaughan, prosecuting, described how the couple “started shouting and swearing at the member of staff”

who called on colleagues for assistance.

However, before other staff could assist, the couple moved the argument outside.

“They were fighting each other,” Ms Vaughan told the court. “Julie Quilligan was repeatedly banging his head against a car.

“Paul Quilligan then grabbed a man who was standing nearby and the two men wrestled each other to the floor.”

At some point during the fracas, a taxi driver also became involved after accusing Quilligan of damaging his vehicle.

In interview the following day, Quilligan apologised for his actions but told police he had been drinking heavily and had little recollection of the incident.

Peter Martin, defending, said: “The essential problem with him is one of alcohol and that is further complicated by his partner.

“They had not been in a pub because of the six-month prohibition order.

“But at the end of their BOBB ban they went out to celebrate and this incident occurred.

“There was a rowat the cab firm and at some stage he became involved with the passer-by and they ended up on the ground.

“When the police went to arrest him, one of the taxi drivers thought his cab had been damaged and he too became involved.

“Quilligan remembers very little about the actual incident because he was extremely drunk.”

Mr Martin said that the couple’s relationship had since ended and the pair had gone their separate ways.

Quilligan pleaded guilty to common assault and a public order offence.

Magistrates sentenced Quilligan to 12 weeks in jail for assault and offered no separate penalty for the public order offence.