A CHESTER teenager had to appear before Chester Magistrates Court as an adult despite being 17 years old at the time of his offence.

Sean Rowlands, now 18, of Broughton, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female during the early hours of Saturday, September 27 in Chester city centre.

The girl had been trying to break up a fight between the defendant and one of his two brothers outside Chic-o-land take away, in Boughton, but was punched in the face herself and had her hair pulled.

Mr Rowlands, who turned 18 between the incident and his appearance before magistrates on Thursday, October 2, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £25 compensation to the victim.

He was told that if he appears before the court within that 12-month period then we will be dealt a more severe sentence for this assault charge.