Woman fined after private prosecution

A PHOTOGRAPHER who was manhandled in the street while taking pictures has taken out a private prosecution for assault against his assailant.

- JASON EVANS Reporter

Dimitris Legakis was snapping photos of a public event on Swansea's Wind Street when the incident happened. The photographer says he took out the private prosecution after "months of inaction" from the police, inaction which he said prompted him to also make a complaint to the force's professional standards department.

Police said an investigation was started but there was insufficient evidence for the matter to be pursued.

Swansea Magistrates' Court heard that the assault happened on Boxing Day last year when Mr Legakis was taking pictures of the annual Three Counties Bloodhounds hunt, a "clean boot" hunt where riders follow human runners.

During the event the photographer was followed and approached by the defendant, Ruth Morgan, who said members of the hunt were asking him to delete photographs involving a child participant in the event. Morgan then grabbed the photographer by the arm of his jacket as he tried to walk away.