Man fined after reacting to 'punch' from officer in Newtown

Ben James Danton, 32, pleaded guilty to obstructing police officers and resisting arrest when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said police were called to a property in Newtown in November, at around 1am to arrest Danton on an unrelated matter.

When they arrived he tensed his arm and swore, telling the officers not to "cuff" him. He rocked from side to side aggressively and tried to push the officers away.

Ms Tench said that to try and arrest him one of the officers punched Danton to the abdomen and when that did not work, PAVA spray was used.

The scuffle led to an officer falling on steps leading from the property, with Danton falling on top of him. Officers were left with grazes and cuts, and in interview, Danton said he would have walked to the car with the officers, that he did not need to be handcuffed.

Paul Inns, defending, said Danton, of Lones Road, West Bromwich, had been to dinner with his partner and friends where others at an adjoining table had been misbehaving towards them.

When they arrived back at his partner's home in Newtown, a couple of "lads" from the adjoining table arrived and there was an argument, but nothing more than that, when the police officers arrived.

Mr Inns said: "He doesn't know why police turned up at the property and there was no action taken regarding those matters.

"The first two officers who arrived, there were no issues, but a second car of officers arrived and took a different approach.

"He offered to walk to the car but at some point the officer punched Mr Danton to the abdomen area and it is also his recollection that a forearm was was placed across his throat as well.

"This led him to behave in the manner he did, and which is out of character for him."

Chair of the magistrates bench Nerys Jones handed Danton a £200 fine and ordered him to pay £50 each to three police involved in the incident.

He will also pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.