Barney Jones, 27, also known as Jedi Master Morda Hehol, was filming a Channel 4 documentary about the church when he was hit with a metal crutch by a man claiming to be the Star Wars villain.

Unemployed Arwel Hughes, 27, admitted to two counts of common assault during Tuesday's hearing in Holyhead court.

Mr Jones told the Chronicle: "There was no lasting physical damage, just a lump, a bruise and a headache - but it was all quite distressing.

"I was shocked and dismayed that this would happen in the privacy of my own garden."

However, Mr Jones is resolved that the incident would not stop him from spreading the word of the Force.

He added: "I want to carry on with what I'm doing.

"This has not knocked me so much that I'm not going to hide away in my bedroom, I won't be beaten down."

In court, prosecutor Nia Lloyd explained that on the afternoon of March 25, Mr Hughes had donned a black bin bag before leaping over a garden wall at Mr Jones's home shouting "Darth Vader".

Then, in what she branded a "totally unprovoked attack", he struck Mr Jones over the head and then Mr Jones's cousin, Michael Jones, causing a bruise on his right thigh.

The prosecutor said both victims were upset and angry following the assaults.

Hughes, of Bryn Hyfryd, Holyhead, was identified when police viewed footage from the TV camera. He was arrested on April 10, and Mrs Lloyd said he told police that he had drunk "the best part" of a ten-litre box of wine and remembered little of what happened.

Hughes agreed it was a stupid thing to do and believed it was a joke, saying he had nothing against the church.

Defence solicitor Mrs Frances Jones said it was a "prank" by a man with a drink problem.

District judge Andrew Shaw adjourned sentencing for a probation service report.

He told Hughes: "I'm keeping all options open; you have a variety of convictions including disobedience to community sentences albeit a long time ago.

"You appear to have selected these two gentlemen as victims, armed yourself with an object and went into a private garden to affect the attack."

Unconditional bail was granted until May 13.

Earlier an arrest warrant had been issued for Hughes after he left the court before his case was called.

Judge Shaw had declared that he hoped "the Force is soon with him", but Hughes returned voluntarily after lunch.

The Jedi church, founded by Mr Jones with his brother, has 30 members locally and thousands worldwide. It attracted worldwide media attention after the story was first run in the Daily Star Sunday and the North Wales Chronicle website.