An antiques dealer was jailed for two years after what a judge described as a “ferocious and cowardly” attack on a friend in a Llandudno street.

Barry Hardern, aged 50, of Madoc Street, Llandudno, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm near his home on March 17.

Caernarfon crown court heard the men had been drinking heavily and Hardern, who had a record for violence, had taken drugs before losing his temper.

CCTV footage was shown to the court.

Judge Nicola Jones said Hardern had dragged Keith Ellis Jones into the middle of the road that night and kicked him repeatedly and stamped on his head. He’d lost consciousness.

Luckily the injuries were “fairly minor” but the victim had been in pain for days. “Even as he walked away, you walked up behind him and pushed him down,” the judge told Hardern. “This was a persistent and prolonged attack.”

A restraining order will last indefinitely.

Prosecuting barrister Ember Wong said Hardern had been living at his antiques shop. There was a row after the friends had been drinking and Mr Jones was punched then kicked. He went to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and the “battered and bruised” victim felt lucky not to have broken bones.

Defence counsel Simon Killeen said Hardern’s last conviction for violence was eleven years ago. He had two shops but struggled to keep them both open during the pandemic.

“It has been a very stressful time and he’s lost one of the shops,” Mr Killeen said. “Suddenly he doesn’t have his rent money. It’s his firm belief the complainant had taken the money. He accepts his reaction was totally unacceptable. He completely lost control.”

The lawyer said there was remorse.

The prosecution didn’t accept Hardern’s claim that he was assaulted first and £1,000 taken from him.