A PENPARCAU man threatened to firebomb police officers after he was arrested for drunkenly taking a bicycle, a court heard.

Daniel Byrne, 35, said he was “really sorry” for what happened and had apologised to the police for his actions which he said came while he was going through a difficult period.

Byrne pleaded guilty to taking a bicycle without consent, being drunk in charge of a bicycle, violent behaviour at Aberystwyth Police Station and attempted criminal damage at a cell in the police station in the early hours of 20 August.

Prosecutor Rhian Jones said police stopped Byrne, of 10 Tremafon Flats, as they were driving behind him towards Penparcau after seeing him veer across the road.

When they spoke to him, the officers realised he was drunk and Byrne told them it wasn’t his bike he was riding, but that he had taken it.

Ms Jones said that after he was arrested Byrne became threatening and abusive saying that he wanted to fight officers and would firebomb them.

When he was put in a cell, Byrne started biting a mattress and then put the mattress up against the toilet and started kicking it. Ms Jones said no damage was caused.

Byrne, who represented himself, said he had been drunk at the time and was not proud of how he reacted. He apologised to magistrates for appearing in court and said he had apologised to the police for how his behaviour and had asked for the officers involved to be told he was sorry.

Byrne said he had been going through a difficult time and that had led to his reaction.

However, he said he had not gone out to steal a bike, but had actually fallen over it while walking home and decided to ride it home, but was going to leave it outside so it could be returned to the owner.

Aberystwyth magistrates said that Byrne had shown clear remorse and made sincere attempts to apologise, so gave him a conditional discharge for 12 months.

However, he will have to pay costs totalling £105.