Police attacked in festive fracas
Officers called after breakdown in relationship
A man had to be brought down with a baton by police at a house on Christmas Day after he lashed out at officers, punching one in the face and pushing another with force on to the sofa.
Incapacitating spray was also used by the police to subdue Ian James Evans in the incident on the evening of December 25.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting emergency workers in the execution of their duty at his home in Heol Arfryn, Carmarthen.
A MAN had to be brought down with a baton by police at a house on Christmas Day after he lashed out at officers, punching one in the face and pushing another with force on to the sofa.
Incapacitating spray was also used by the police to subdue Ian James Evans in the incident on the evening of December 25.
He appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court from custody on Thursday following his arrest on Christmas night. Evans, 34, gave his address in court as Heol Arfryn, Carmarthen, where the incident took place, and pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting emergency workers in the execution of their duty.
Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said: “Three officers attended the home address at the request of the defendant’s partner, who had asked him to leave several times due to his behaviour through the course of the day. The police even offered to drop him off somewhere as it was Christmas Day.”
The court heard that at this point Evans took exception to police being at the property.
Mrs Vaughan added: “The female officer, PC Lakin, was pushed by the defendant and fell back on to the sofa while one of the male officers, PC James, was punched to the face.”
The punch drew blood, Mrs Vaughan said.
The defendant was then struck to the leg with a baton by the officers and incapacitating spray was used by PC Phillips, who was not hurt in the incident said Mrs Vaughan.
In a victim impact statement, PC Megan Lakin said the push had been with force, adding: “Going to work on Christmas Day, I didn’t think I would be assaulted by a man like that.”
Defending Evans, solicitor Kate Williams said he was extremely remorseful for the incident. “He doesn’t take issue with the facts and is extremely remorseful,” she said.
“He knows that the police were only there doing their job. The relationship with his girlfriend had broken down and he was upset by that.”
Evans was given four weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months for each of the assaults, totalling 12 weeks to run con- secutively. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £115 and compensation to each of the officers. Evans was told to compensate PC James £100 and £50 each for PCs Lakin and Phillips.