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A bride was punched, grabbed and pulled down a flight of stairs by her dress on her wedding day by her new brother-in-law – who was also the best man, a court has heard.
Tomos Rhydian Wilson went on a drunken rampage at his brother’s reception at the Lampeter’s Falcon dale Hotel in Ceredigion, Wales, saying his sibling ‘should never have married the bride.’
The 29-year-old from Swansea threw punches at bride Erin Mason-George, grabbed her by her wedding dress and also assaulted her two sisters and her mother.
The assault happened as the family had tried to help the drunk groom up the stairs after his wedding.
Wilson started hurling abuse at the Mason-George family, the court heard.
He said his brother should never have married primary school teacher Ms Mason-George and said his brother was ‘no longer a Wilson’.
Wilson, who was working as a prison officer at the time, was yesterday found guilty of five charges of assault as well as two charges of criminal damage.
His brother Steffan is a Section commander in the Army, having served as a soldier in the Corps of Royal Engineers for eight years.
District Judge Gwyn Jones said that while none of the Mason-George family suffered long-lasting injuries, the ‘thoughts and bad memories of what should have been a happy event will be there for some time’.
Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said on July 27, Wilson had reacted angrily when the family tried to get his brother Steffan Wilson to go to bed as he was drunk.
Ms Mason-George told the trial that things escalated when Wilson tried to throw punches at her.
He then grabbed his sister-in-law’s wedding dress and pulled it, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs.
Mr Challinor said that during the incident Wilson assaulted Ms Mason-George’s mother, Linda, and her younger sister Dion, and also grabbed Ms Mason-George’s other sister, Cally, by the neck, causing reddening.
Wilson also assaulted a manager at Lampeter’s Falcondale Hotel it is claimed and was charged with damaging his shirt and fixtures and fittings at the venue.
During the trial, Wilson denied all the charges and defence solicitor Tom Roberts said the incident had been sparked by Ms Mason-George and her family.
He said Wilson had reacted after seeing Ms Mason-George first slap and swear at his brother, before seeing her and her family assisting Steffan Wilson up the stairs where he claimed Ms Mason-George had pushed him, causing him to fall.
Mr Roberts said both Ms Mason-George and her sister Cally had thrown punches at Wilson and that Ms Mason-George later threw a vase and glass bottle at him, which she denied.
Giving evidence on Tuesday morning, Harry Wilson, the other best man, said he saw Erin Mason-George ‘slap’ Steffan Wilson saying it was time for bed.
He described seeing Steffan fall down the stairs and his brother Tomos going to help him before Erin Mason-George threw punches at Tomos, which connected, while other members of her family ‘lunged’ at Steffan.
Harry said Tomos had not assaulted anybody and had got away from the area while he helped Steffan.
At Aberystwyth court yesterday, Wilson was made subject to a community order for 12-months and will have to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £250 each to Erin and Cally Mason-George, as well as £100 each to Dion and Linda Mason-George and Mr Jones.
Costs of £960 and a victim surcharge of £90 were also imposed.
