An 18-year-old Pembroke man entered a guilty plea yesterday, admitting punching a security guard at an apartment building where his girlfriend and his mother both live.

Troy Harris was visiting his girlfriend at the Gulfstream transitional/emergency housing complex at Southside, St. David's, on June 20 when he got into an altercation with a security guard, punching him in the face and injuring his lower lip before fleeing, Magistrates' Court heard.

Harris admitted his offence to arresting officers, but explained that the guard was "too much in his face", according to senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney.

Duty defence lawyer Shade Subair told the court that the defendant felt "aggravated" by the guard's approach, which allegedly included a threat to snap Harris' neck.

Ms Subair added that Harris felt "remorseful", adding: "He has accepted responsibility that he overreacted."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner at first asked why he should not send Harris to prison, but then adjourned the matter until September 4 for a social inquiry report. Harris was released on bail.