A MAN has admitted assaulting a teenage woman and being being drunk and disorderly in public.

Leighton Wright, 40, of Highbrook Way, Lydney, admitted to the offences in Chepstow on December 19, 2025.

Newport Magistrates’ Court heard the victim of the assault was walking through a park on Welsh Street around 7.45pm, when Wright appeared out of the darkness and grabbed her arm.

The 19-year-old victim escaped and ran to two members of the public, who called the police.

Jess Taylor-Gooddard, prosecuting, said: “She was fearful, on her own in the dark” and called it an “unprovoked attack".

Wright initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea having reviewed the CCTV evidence and police body-worn footage.

Wright told the court he had left Lydney by train to Chepstow at 5.30pm after a Christmas do, but had not drunk alcohol.

He claimed that his drinks were then spiked, as he cannot remember anything following his second pint.

He added that he lost his keys and phone, and sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Wright said: “I had no alcohol beforehand, I don’t touch drugs, never have and never will. It’s just not me.”

The court heard that he didn’t understand how he became so intoxicated, and felt “shocked and appalled” after viewing the footage and was “extremely sorry for the offence”.

District Judge Sophie Toms said: “There were no injuries, but the psychological effects would have been difficult for her. You don’t know how it will affect her going out at night.”

The judge imposed a six-month community order, inclusive of a curfew tag on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. for three months and an alcohol monitoring tag for 90 days.

She added: “The next three months you won’t be going out at night time for those nights. The purpose is to stop you going out and having fun, frankly.”

Wright must also pay £414 in costs, compensation and a victim surcharge.