A former Powys chemist has been warned prison is inevitable after he attacked a barrister with a 12in metal bolt.

Samuel Ashby, who worked at the Llandrindod Wells Moss Pharmacy during the summer of 2003, was at a Royal Pharmaceutical Society disciplinary hearing in October last year over his conduct when he launched the attack, a court heard.

He struck barrister Desmond Fitzpatrick.

Mr Fitzpatrick, 47, who was representing the society, was hit on the head with the bolt, leaving him needing seven stitches.

Ashby, 61, was only prevented from doing further damage by society officials and a journalist covering the hearing, in which Ashby was struck off the register.

At Inner London Crown Court yesterday, Ashby, from Inglesby near Grantham in Lincolnshire, was remanded in custody.

He had admitted causing actual bodily harm at a previous hearing.

Judge Quentin Campbell told the Australian-born defendant he was adjourning sentence because of concern over a defence psychiatrist’s report.

He said: “It is not part of this court’s remit to consider whether the charges brought against you by your professional body were fair, unfair, justified or unjustified. It is clear from the evidence you became not only angry, but you had with you a weapon.”

The judge did not accept Ashby’s explanation that he carried the bolt for protection against muggers.

Judge Campbell said: “It is quite clear you had this weapon with you with a view to using it. You produced that weapon, threatening and telling the parties they were going to get what they deserved or words to that effect.”

The court heard the disciplinary hearing was held to carpet Ashby over his behaviour towards staff and customers. It was claimed he removed drugs, including antihistamine and antidepressants, for his own use.

Ashby was also brought before the hearing over accusations of failing to dispense medicines correctly from the Llandrindod Wells pharmacy in August 2003.

By Tamlyn Jones