A NEWTOWN man felt “targeted” by police after he fought with two officers who called at his house after a night out after concerns about a possible domestic incident.

Dyfed Powys Police officers called at Martyn Hamer’s Swallow Drive home on October 3 last year after he and his partner had been out in town.

The couple had been thrown out of a taxi after an argument, prompting the call to police. But when officers called at the address, Hamer became aggressive and assaulted both officers.

Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard that Hamer, 47, had initially denied assaulting PC Dave Jones and PC Thomas Woosnam, but pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial, on May 13.

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“This happened while the defendant was being arrested just after midnight at his home,” prosecutor Helen Tench told Hamer’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday, May 21.

“The defendant opened the door and let officers in. When he was told he was being arrested he instantly became aggressive and irate, and he resisted.

“He wouldn’t allow the handcuffs to be applied. His partner became involved. He was kicking out and pushing officers away, showing high levels of aggression.

“The defendant threw a punch at one officer and then collided with the TV before PC Woosnam used spray on him.

“PC Jones used pressure points and he was finally handcuffed and arrested.

“He was repeatedly told to stop resisting, while his partner was also trying to prevent officers from arresting him.

“PC Jones was being assaulted on the sofa so PC Woosnam used his spray.

“He was also aggressive after his arrest and tried to get to PC Jones. He said to him ‘Come on then, do you think you’re f*****g hard?’.”

Mrs Tench said PC Jones suffered a shin injury, but there was no physical injury to PC Woosnam.

Rob Hanratty, representing Hamer, said his client felt aggrieved as there had been no domestic incident.

“We are seeing lots of fairly aggressive arrests by police," he said. "The defendant himself broke a rib as a consequence of this.

“He felt quite aggrieved and that he received unwanted attention. Not much thought was given to why he needed to be taken in. But he accepts the two assaults.”

Mr Hanratty said Hamer is currently on benefits, but is hoping to start a new job soon in maintenance.

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Magistrates heard from probation officer Harriet Beer-Doblon, who said: “He has a history with police and felt he was being targeted.”

She said Hamer had 10 previous offences on his record, including five for violence. She added: “He completed a previous order during Covid and he has a strong work ethic.”

Magistrates handed Hamer a 12-month community order; he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days.

They told him the community order had been uplifted from low to medium due to the assaults being on police officers.

He was also told to pay £150 costs and £100 compensation to PC Jones.