A MAN with a history of violence punched a police officer in the face whilst on bail over an “ugly” street fight.

Kyle Bloodworth attacked PC Rhys Jones as he was trying to arrest him for the criminal damage of a garden shed.

Newport Crown Court heard how the defendant was then chased and rugby tackled by the officer as he tried to make his getaway in Ebbw Vale.

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The incident took place at around 4pm on Mount Pleasant Road on June 9.

Prosecutor Tom Roberts said: “The defendant appeared intoxicated and had gone into a back garden and damaged a metal shed.

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“Police officers were called and found him on the bonnet of a parked car.

“The defendant tried to get away and swung punches at PC Jones connecting with his face near the mouth and his eye causing bruising.”

Bloodworth was on bail at the time for an affray he committed in Cwm in August 2020 when he brawled in the street with Jack Webster.

Mr Roberts told how the defendant had caused trouble after going to a house to collect a debt owed to him by another man.

Violence flared and Mr Webster suffered “nasty lacerations” to his hand which needed stitches.

Bloodworth, 28, of Pant-Y-Mynydd, Beaufort, Ebbw Vale, pleaded guilty to affray, assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

The court heard how he had eight previous convictions for 19 offences and included attempted robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and battery.

Jeffrey Jones, representing Bloodworth, said his client had suffered from an “entrenched” addiction problem.

Referring to the affray, he added: “There was an element of a consensual fight and he was struck with a piece of wood.

“He has regret and he cannot remember what he did.”

Judge Richard Williams said: “The affray was an ugly incident in the street and a substantial disturbance of the peace.

“In June, you made a determined attempt to prevent your lawful arrest.

“You punched PC Jones in the face before he chased and tackled you.”

“You have a bad record for violence and you abuse both drugs and alcohol.

“You committed the second offences when you were on bail which was disobedience of a court order.

“You are assessed as posing a risk to the public.”

Bloodworth was jailed for 10 months for affray and six months for assaulting PC Jones.

The sentences will run consecutively, making a total of 16 months in prison.

After the case Gwent Police Chief Constable Pam Kelly said: “Assaults on police officers and other emergency service workers are completely unacceptable.

“It is important to remember that behind their badge or their uniform, these people are also members of the public.

“Nobody should be assaulted in their place of work and there can be no excuse whatsoever for this kind of behaviour.

“Assaults of any kind will never be tolerated by Gwent Police at any time.”