Off-duty policeman denies attack

There was an earlier disagreement in a pub in Rhyd-y-fro, the trial heard

An off-duty policeman allegedly attacked two brothers with an extendable baton and threatened one with a knife, a trial jury has heard.

David Burrows, 43, denies two counts of unlawfully wounding Edward Tyrrell, assaulting his brother Sean and possessing an offensive weapon.

The attack is said to have happened near his local Swansea Valley pub.

The defence at Carmarthen Crown Court claims the brothers tried to "ambush" him outside the pub in Rhyd-y-fro.

The opening day of the trial heard the Tyrrell brothers and a friend had attended a funeral on 23 September last year.

They had started drinking early in the morning and had visited pubs in Clydach and Pontardawe before arriving at the Travellers Well.

"Burn his house down."

Prosecuting, Janet Gedrych said during the evening Edward Tyrell became involved in a disagreement with Mr Burrows who was in the lounge area.

Mr Burrows was seen to leave the pub and return later.

The brothers left after midnight in a taxi but received a telephone call on a mobile phone claiming Mr Burrows was looking for Edward Tyrell.

As I approached the two of them Dave attacked me with the baton as well Sean Tyrrell

They returned to the pub but were not allowed in and as they walked away the brothers said Mr Burrows came out shouting and swearing.

Edward Tyrell said he and Mr Burrows confronted each other on Commercial Road at which point the off-duty policeman produced "a thin bar" and struck him over the head.

Dan Williams, for Mr Burrows, put it to Mr Tyrrell that earlier he had made threats to "burn his house down."

He asked Mr Tyrell whether he had tried to "ambush" him.

Sean Tyrell told the jury that during the day he had consumed "15 to 18 pints" but had a pretty good recollection of what had taken place.

Ran away

He claimed when Mr Burrows emerged from the pub he was "angry" and "there was a lot of shouting going on."

He said he saw "David come out with something like a baton".

"He was swinging it from left to right. I saw Ed dazed with his hands on his head. I did not actually see the strike on his head - he was covered in blood.

"I went closer to see and try and protect my brother. As I approached the two of them Dave attacked me with the baton as well."

He said he then saw Mr Burrows was carrying a knife and they both ran away when he started to threaten them.

The jury was shown photographs of the alleged injuries to Sean Tyrell's arm and back taken at Pontardawe police station later in the day on 24 September.

The trial, which is expected to last until the end of the week, resumes on Wednesday.