A Monkton man who assaulted two police officers in Pembroke Dock has been ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work in the community for the offences.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mark Aitchison, of St. Martins Road, was found guilty of two charges of assaulting Sergeant Hamish Nichols and PC David Thomas, and a further two charges of obstructing the police officers in the execution of their duty on August 4, 2013, following a two-day trial last week at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

The defendant reappeared in court on Tuesday, after magistrates had called for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Newton told the court how the defendant's wife, Mrs. Jodie Aitchison, phoned the police on the night in question, shortly after 11 pm, to tell them that her husband was at a pub drunk and she didn't want him to come home to their address.

Police officers Sergeant Nichols and PC Thomas attended the address and spoke to Mr. Aitchison at the gate of the premises. After speaking to the officers, he indicated that he would stay at a friend's house that night, after they explained to him the breach of the peace act.

"The officers remained in the area and, soon after, spotted Mr. Aitchison looking through the curtains of his friend's house which was six doors away and they were worried he would return," explained Mr. Newton.

Soon after, officers heard the sound of breaking glass and people shouting, the court was told, and Mr. Aitchison was seen to be arguing with others.

When he was approached by the officers, he swore at them and threw a punch at Sergeant Nichols.

Mr. Aitchison was pushed away by the officers who were trying to restrain him with a view to arresting him, but he struggled and attempted to bite one of them.

By now, a large crowd had congregated around the incident and the atmosphere was hostile, so officers called for assistance.

"The defendant was now kicking out at the officers and one of them managed to get on top of him on the floor and place a handcuff on Mr. Aitchison's wrist, but he continued to resist arrest and one of the officers was forced to use his incapacitant spray," Mr. Newton said

"Sergeant Nichols, who has served for 30 years with Dyfed Powys Police, said it was singularly the most violent fight he'd been involved in with the force and the first time he'd been in a position where he'd had to use his incapacitant spray," added Mr. Newton, who also explained to the court that Mr. Aitchison had previous convictions for common assault, ABH and had served a prison sentence in 2010 for wounding.

Sergeant Nichols suffered a thick upper lip and red marks to his leg, while PC Thomas, who was bitten on his foot, also suffered swelling and cuts to his right knuckle.

The defendant's solicitor, Mr. James Subbiani, told the court his client was a family man with four children.

"Mr. Aitchison suffered far more injuries than the police officers had sustained following the incident, and before being taken to the police station following his arrest, had to visit Withybush Hospital as a cut to the back of his head had to be glued," he said.

Probation officer, Mrs. Julie Norman, told the court that Mr. Aitchison's version of events differed significantly to that of the police and that he still maintained denial of the charges brought against him.

She said that the defendant had now gained employment at Valero, and that all of his previous convictions were linked to him consuming alcohol.

Magistrates ordered that Mr. Aitchison undertake 200 hours of unpaid work in the community over a 12-month period.

He was ordered to pay £50 each in compensation to the two officers, a £60 victim surcharge and £800 in costs.