A MAN from Holyhead who assaulted a police officer and was found to be carrying a knife in public has been spared jail.

Arron Dean, 29, of Market Street, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (August 9).

He had previously admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker, possessing a bladed article in public, and intimidating a witness.

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Prosecuting, Paulinus Barnes told the court that on December 22, 2022, an alleged incident involving Dean and his brother was witnessed, and reported to police, by a 16-year-old girl.

Dean was later arrested, at which time officers found him to be in possession of a “flick knife”.

He was taken to custody in Caernarfon, where officers described him as being “truculent, demanding and abusive”, before later assaulting one of them.

Demanding to make a phone call to his partner, Dean told officers that he would not be staying in custody, appearing “intoxicated” and speaking with “slurred” speech.

When asked by officers to take off his trainers, he refused and told them to “f*** off”.

He continued swearing at the officers while his trainers were removed, threatening to “knock out” one of them.

A group of five officers were attempting to negotiate with him, as Dean continued to make threats including to “bite” and “kick” them.

Officers had restrained him, but after letting go of him, Dean went towards an inspector shouting: “I’ll knock you out.”

He was forced to the ground by an officer, but Dean still managed to strike him with his elbow.

On February 13 in Holyhead, Dean then came across two people, one of whom was the mother of the 16-year-old girl who had initially reported him to police.

Dean called them “grassing b******s”, and was said to have threatened them to such an extent that they locked themselves in a van.

The girl’s mother contacted police, as did the defendant, telling them he had cut off the tag he was given following the previous incident.

He had been hitting the van, shouting at the two people to “get out”, and threatening to “f***ing kill” one of them.

Dean was found by police on his doorstep, and was later remanded in custody.

His previous convictions, Mr Barnes said, included for offences of battery, theft and criminal damage.

Defending Dean, John Wyn Williams said that his client has significant mental health issues which were likely a contributory factor in these “unpleasant offences”.

The time he has spent on remand has been, he said, his first experience of custody, and Dean was said to have “used that time constructively”.

Dean still struggles with alcoholism, and a brain injury he suffered from an accident likely exacerbated his mental health issues.

But, Mr Wyn Williams said, “It may be that his mental health issues explain the way he reacted to police officers, why he reacted in the way he did, and why he wanted to go back to custody to be put on the straight and narrow.”

Deeming Dean to have a “glimmer of hope”, Mr Wyn Williams invited the court to consider suspending his custodial sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts agreed to do so, considering Dean to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Dean was also handed 20 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements, a 120-day monitored period of alcohol abstinence, and a 10-year restraining order.

Judge Petts said that Dean’s poor mental health was “not an excuse” for his behaviour and “doesn’t eliminate” the responsibility he must take for his actions.

He told Dean: “Any assault on a police officer is a serious matter, as is having a blade in public.”