Jail for man who 'strangled' police sergeant at Bangor hostel

A man who sprayed a police sergeant in the eyes with a fire extinguisher before grabbing him round the throat has been jailed

Mathew Williams, 26, of Pendinas Hostel, Mount Street, Bangor, was then punched by the policeman who shouted “stop strangling me”, magistrates in Caernarfon heard.

Court chairman Peter Talbot told Williams, who he jailed for 16 weeks: “You should be ashamed of yourself for your conduct on that night.”

Prosecutor Diane Williams said Williams had lived at the hostel in Mount Street after being freed from jail but was refused entry after returning under the influence of drink. He removed his T-shirt and punched a window and turned over benches, so a worker dialled 999 and police arrived.

Sergeant Hughes, 22 years an officer, was hit with high-pressure water. He used his incapacitant pepper spray but was grabbed to the throat and suffered discomfort in what the magistrate described as a “particularly serious attack.”

Williams pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assaulting sergeant Douglas Hughes causing actual bodily harm on April 29, using violence to secure entry into Pendinas Hostel, and criminal damage to garden benches, three windows, the extinguisher and a door.

He must pay £300 compensation to the officer and £250 compensation for damage at the hostel.

Andrew Scott, defending, said Williams, unemployed, couldn’t remember what happened. The probation service were recalling him to prison and he realised the only option for the magistrates was a jail term. Williams had written letters to the court and hostel.

Mr Scott said: “The letter shows Mr Williams does have an insight into the offence and is genuinely ashamed of his actions.”

The defendant believed someone may have “spiked” his drinks.