A NEWPORT man has pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers.

Patrick Michael Desmond, 49, of Alexandra Road, Pill, pleaded guilty at Newport Magistrates’ Court yesterday to two counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of his or her duty.

Desmond pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

The court heard the defendant was described by officers to be brandishing a black metal pole and that Desmond assaulted one police officer by spitting in their face and the other by striking a police officer with the pole, grazing their leg.

Nathan Jones, defending, said that Desmond acted in self defence and had experienced problems with alcohol in the past as well as suffering from psychological health issues.

The chairman of magistrates gave Desmond a sentence of 18 months supervision and a curfew between the hours of 6pm to 6am for three months. He will be electronically tagged.

Desmond was charged £85 in costs, £150 compensation to PC 357 Nancarrow and £100 compensation to PC 571 Barbour, as well as a victim surcharge of £60.

Magistrates ordered the pole to be destroyed.