AN ABERYSTWYTH man assaulted two police officers, then ripped up a jumper in custody and stuffed it down the toilet before urinating on the cell floor, magistrates have heard.

Joel Owens, of 32 Portland Street, pleaded guilty to damaging police property and assaulting two officers in what was described as a “very nasty incident”.

Aberystwyth magistrates heard that 24-year-old Owens assaulted the officers after police were called to the building in which he lives following a disturbance on 27 July this year.

The court heard that PCs Fanning and Woodland, who attended, were injured in a “scuffle” with Owens who was acting “very aggressively”.

The police officers said they felt “threatened and feared for their safety” during the altercation in the hallway of the building, the court was told.

The officers suffered injuries to the face, arms and legs during the scuffle and subsequent attempt to restrain Owens, the court heard.

Once in custody, Owens ripped up a custody jumper he was given and stuffed it down the cell toilet before spitting at the CCTV camera and urinating on the floor.

The court heard that incidents such as this have a “profound effect” on police officers who are assaulted during their duties.

An impact statement from the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police read out in court said that “all too often police are subjected to attacks”.

“They [assaults] are not simply a part of the job,” the court heard. “They are serious and unacceptable. Officers suffer not just physical effects but also psychological.

“Returning to work after an assault is difficult.”

The court heard that every year Dyfed-Powys Police records 180 assaults on its officers.

Kevin Williams, defending, told the court that this was a “one-off incident”, and that there were no violent offences on Owens’ past.

The court heard Owens suffers from ADHD, depression and anxiety and was in an “agitated state” when police arrived and “reacted badly” to the situation.

Owens was under a community order for five thefts at the time of the incident, the court heard, but that it was nearly complete.

The court imposed a fresh 12-month community order on Owens, including 15 rehabilitation days and a 20-session thinking skills programme.

He was also made the subject of a four-week curfew from 8pm to 7am.

He was ordered to pay compensation to police for the custody jumper of £35, as well as compensation of £100 and £50 for injuries to PC Fanning and PC Woodland respectively.

Owens was told he must also pay £85 costs and an £85 surcharge.