A POWYS man phoned police saying he was distressed but then acted aggressively towards them and threatened one particular officer, having downed a bottle of vodka and taken cocaine.

Landrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last week heard Joshua Evans took a dislike to Dyfed Powys Police officer PC Overd during the incident, which occurred in Hay-on-Wye on February 28.

Evans, 26, told police who arrived at the scene “I just want to punch someone” and made threats to PC Overd before lunging at him, after which he was arrested.

Evans, of Warren Close, Hay, admitted one charge of being drunk and disorderly and a second of assaulting an emergency worker when he appeared for sentence in Llandrindod on Wednesday, March 15.

“It was the late evening when police had a call from the defendant, he said he ‘felt he was going to go mental and kick off’,” said prosecutor Stephen Davies.

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“He said ‘I’ll f*****g punch them’. PC Overd and Key attended and the defendant became aggressive towards them. He puffed up his chest and said ‘I just want to punch someone’.

“He seemed to take a dislike to PC Overd and began threatening him verbally. One moment he appeared to have calmed down but then made threats and then he lunged towards PC Overd, telling him ‘I’ll kill you, I’ll batter you’.

“He was interviewed by police and said he had drank a whole bottle of vodka and taken cocaine.

“He was very apologetic. His final comment to police was ‘I’m glad I didn’t punch him’.”

Mr Davies said Evans had a previous drunk and disorderly conviction in his past but that it had occurred some years ago.

Acting for Evans, Gareth Walters, said: “He phoned police himself, he was going through a mental health crisis, although it was self-inflicted.

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“He has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD; his mother is his carer but she wasn’t there, she had gone to visit one of her other children.

“Mercifully, it went no further than threats and no-one was harmed.

“Usually, people say things like the police deserve it but he was apologetic and said he was glad he didn’t assault the officer.

“He has no recollection of the incident but offers his apologies through me. It has been a wake-up call for him. He has sought help regarding his mental health but he is on a waiting list to be seen by the mental health team.”

Evans was fined £140 by magistrates and ordered to pay a £56 surcharge and £85 costs for the offence related to the officer. They issued no separate penalty for the drunk and disorderly charge.

Chair of the bench, Lorna Jones, told him: “ I strongly suggest you seek help and support from Kaleidoscope.”