A MACHYNLLETH man who launched a sustained attack on two police officers by kicking, headbutting and biting them has been jailed.

The two police officers attacked by Andrew Dean Bagnall said they had been left “shocked” by his behaviour which was amongst the worst they had experienced during their time on the police force.

Bagnall, of 51 Craigfryn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting police officers, two charges of resisting police officers, criminal damage to a blanket at the police station and attempted criminal damage, claiming that he “saw red” during the incident on New Year’s Eve.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Bagnall himself had first called police just before 10pm because he thought his pregnant partner might cause problems as she had been drinking.

However, police were again called out just after 11pm when Bagnall’s partner, 36, phoned to say he had “kicked off”.

Bagnall had left, but returned to their home while the police were still there and lost his temper, throwing his bike to the ground, only for it to bounce up and hit the police car.

Officers tried to arrest him, but Bagnall started struggling and was using his body to try and push police away. Ms Tench said while the officers were struggling with Bagnall, Bagnall’s partner was trying to interfere and stop them from arresting him, even claiming that an officer had elbowed her.

But Ms Tench told the court she had been making claims against officers in an attempt to “goad” Bagnall into acting aggressively toward the police. After partially getting Bagnall into the police van, he had his legs out, but when officers tried to move his legs inside he punched one of the officers in the face.

Bagnall then calmed down, but his partner came back to the scene with a dog which she allowed off a lead and which was running around the officers, with the commotion again causing Bagnall to become agitated.

He then lashed out with his feet, kicking one of the officers in the groin, before spitting at the other officer. Bagnall then kicked out again and ended up kicking his partner, although she claimed that it had been a police officer that had kicked her.

Bagnall then bit one of the officers on the arm, drawing blood.

After assistance arrived to get Bagnall into the police van, he made threats against officers while being driven to the police station, including threats to kill the families of officers.

Bagnall apologised at the police station for his behaviour and claimed that he had been having a difficult time and had mixed prescription medication with alcohol.

Magistrates heard that Bagnall had been subject to a suspended prison sentence for assault at the time of the incident, but defence solicitor Alison Mathias urged magistrates not to jail him as that would mean he would not receive help for his issues with alcohol and anger management.

She said Bagnall had reported a traumatic childhood incident to the police shortly before the incident and had been struggling to cope, turning to alcohol.

However, magistrates agreed to activate the suspended sentence, sending Bagnall to prison for 10 weeks.

They also imposed a 16-week prison sentence to run consecutively for one of the assaults on a police officer, while imposing a 10-week sentence to run concurrently for the assault on the other officer.

In total, Bagnall was jailed for 26 weeks, but will also pay compensation of £500 to one of the police officers and £250 to the other officer. He will also pay costs of £115.