A Llanrhystud man kicked out at a police officer after refusing to get out of a car, magistrates have heard.

Adam Benjamin Greenhalgh, 39, entered a guilty plea to assaulting PC Gary Williams on 24 February after the officer stopped a car that Greenhalgh was a passenger in. He had initially pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said PC Williams stopped the car at around 7.30pm at Llanon to speak to Greenhalgh, who was living at Llain Delyn in Llanrhystud, but is currently moving to Devon, about an unrelated incident.

When the officer spoke to Greenhalgh though, he refused to get out of the car and became abusive toward PC Williams telling him that he’d “smash you up”.

While the officer continued talking to Greenhalgh, Greenhalgh put his feet out of the car, but ended up kicking out and catching PC Williams in the leg.

Defence solicitor Alan Lewis said the reason the police had been called was because there had been concerns about Greenhalgh’s welfare, so he had not been in trouble and there was no need for him to get out of the car he was in.

He said Greenhalgh had battled problems with alcohol in the past but had not drunk for 18 months before stress led to him drinking on that day.

Mr Lewis said Greenhalgh wanted to apologise in court for his behaviour.

Greenhalgh was given a community order for 12 months with 60 hours of unpaid work, but will pay compensation of £50 to PC Williams and costs totalling £285.