‘Raging bull’ rugby player jailed over officer attack
APOWERFUL former professional rugby player pulled out Taser barbs and dump-tackled a police officer during an explosive fit of rage.
Former Rygbi Gogledd Cymru captain Maredydd Francis punched and kicked the PC to the face as the officer tried to arrest him – leaving his victim hospitalised for 10 days.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard that it took three officers to subdue 26-year-old Francis – who “went from calm to raging bull in a split-second”.
Prosecuting counsel John Philpotts said PC Richard Priamo became aware of automatic number plate recognition “hits” on Francis’ Nissan car and he was wanted in Merseyside.
He knew Francis from his schooldays and went to the defendant’s home, where he knocked on the door on August 3, last year.
Mr Philpotts said he asked Francis, in a friendly and non-confrontational manner, to speak to him and said he had to be arrested. But Francis’ demeanour changed.
The officer put his foot in the door but was punched in the face.
PC Priamo found himself backed in a corner in the hall as Francis threatened to kill him and continued to throw punches. The constable was thrown on to grass and kicked.
Counsel said he felt blood on his face, and his Taser twice had little effect on Francis, who pulled out the barbs.
Further punches caused the PC to “bounce off the walls” and he deployed incapacitant spray too.
Francis performed a dump-tackle on to concrete before a woman neighbour urged him to stop the violence. “The officer believes he lost consciousness for a period,’ Mr Philpotts said.
PC Priamo’s wife, also an officer, heard his emergency radio call and had been distressed by what she saw when she arrived at the scene. Her husband had a black eye and other bruising and needed a catheter until he was discharged from hospital.
In mitigation, defence barrister Philip Tully said the officer was back at work and his client admitted the incident had been unpleasant and frightening for the officer.
Mr Tully also claimed there was a different side to Francis, who had once been a talented sportsman representing north Wales.
In 2018, Francis was handed a four-year ban for using performance-enhancing drugs and other banned substances.
Mr Tully added: “He accepts what he did was wrong. He accepts he deserves to be punished.”
Judge Niclas Parry described Francis as “ferocious” and said the only option was an immediate custodial term.
He said: “On August 3, without explanation or warning, as described by your victim, you went from calm to raging bull in a split-second.
“Your victim, a police officer doing his work, had attended your property to request, in a civil way, you accompany him to the police station.”
The judge said an indication of Francis’ strength was that, as well as punching the officer, he grabbed him between the legs and dump-tackled him on a concrete area at his home. It took three officers, who arrived after PC Richard Priamo pressed his radio emergency button, to restrain Francis.
He admitted causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge Parry said the PC was in hospital for 10 days after being beaten up.
“I sentence you on the basis he made a full recovery and returned to work. But police officers are entitled to return from work without having been beaten up,” the judge remarked.
It was Francis’ third attack on a police officer, although his previous record was old.
Francis, of School Lane, Southsea, Wrexham, was jailed for 21 months.
Following the conclusion of the case, Karen Dixon of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Francis carried out a prolonged and violent assault on a police officer conducting his lawful duties.
“We take any incident of violence against an emergency worker extremely seriously.”