A PONTYPOOL man ordered his dog to savage two police officers as they tried to arrest him, a court heard.

Sergeant Ian Wilkinson and PC Cerith Griffiths needed hospital treatment after suffering bites and puncture marks in the vicious attack - which only ended when Sgt Wilkinson knocked it unconscious.

Gareth John King, 23, from New House, Pantygasseg, Pontypool, yesterday admitted affray and escaping police custody.

Newport crown court heard Sgt Wilkinson and PC Griffiths were investigating reports a Daihatsu 4x4 was taken without the driver's consent at the Gwenallt Industrial Estate, Pontnewynydd, at 3am on September 11, 2001.

They heard voices and a dog barking inside a factory unit - and after getting no response forced their way inside, to find King, his girlfriend, and two youths.

King's dog, described in court as a "Staffordshire pit bull" terrier, was with them. King shouted to the officers: "Come near me and you'll be having this dog," the court heard.

There was a struggle as officers managed to get handcuffs on one of his wrists - and he then set the dog on the officers.

The animal leapt at PC Griffiths and sank his teeth into his leg, the court heard and was only stopped when Sgt Wilkinson punched it unconscious.

In the confusion, King escaped back in to the building and locking himself in then sawed off the handcuff with a hacksaw.

The shaken officers called for reinforcements and both were taken to Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital for treatment before returning to the scene.

They helped arrest King who was finally taken into custody three hours later. Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones, QC, warned King - who had no legal representative - he faced a custodial sentence.

After the case, PC Griffiths told the Argus: "The initial pain was really bad and my right calf was punctured and my trousers ripped to bits."

Sgt Wilkinson, a former Pontypool RFC flanker, added: "The pit bull then came at me and he got his jaws locked around my knee.

"The adrenaline was absolutely pumping and the only thing I thought about doing was to punch the dog in the head.

"Luckily the punch was good enough to knock it straight out." King, held in custody since his arrest on September 11, is due to be sentenced on April 11.

*PICTURED: Sergeant Ian Wilkinson (left) and PC Cerith Griffiths.