AN arrest warrant has been issued for a Powys man who failed to show up for his sentencing hearing at crown court after he admitted nine separate assaults on police officers.

Jonathan Corrington punched, bit and spat in the faces of multiple officers at three different locations following his arrest on May 19 – three of the officers required hospital treatment.

The 21-year-old, from Brecon, saw his case sent to Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court last Friday, July 1, because magistrates sitting in the lower court last month didn’t think their sentencing powers were sufficient. However, Corrington failed to show up to hear his punishment, so the judge ordered a warrant for his arrest.

Corrington, of Little Free Street, Brecon, was initially arrested after police were called to deal with reports that a male had assaulted a female at Ystradgynlais Bus Station on the afternoon of May 19. That led to a series of events which resulted in a total of nine different Dyfed Powys Police officers being assaulted by Corrington, including at the original scene, as well as at Morriston Hospital in Swansea and also at Brecon Police Station where he was eventually detained.

Corrington had been charged with 13 separate assaults on emergency workers when he appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on May 21.

He pleaded guilty to nine counts and had been due to be sentenced at Merthyr Magistrates' Court on Friday, June 17. However, magistrates deemed their sentencing powers insufficient and instead committed the case to Merthyr Crown Court on July 1.

The officers Corrington assaulted over May 19 and 20 were Sergeants John Cross and Andrew Rogers and PCs Matthew Humphreys, Sara Richards, Carwyn Evans, Nick Jenkins, Matthew Owen, Adam Jones and Andrew Greensmith.

Sergeant Cross and PCs Humphreys, Richards and Evans were attacked at the scene of the original offence in Ystradgynlais. PCs Jenkins and Owen suffered assaults at the hospital in Swansea, while Sergeant Rogers and PCs Jones and Greensmith were assaulted at Brecon Police Station.

Dyfed Powys Police Chief Inspector Jacqui Lovatt said: “Upon his arrest he became violently aggressive and assaulted officers, punching them to face, biting them and spitting in their faces.

“He assaulted further officers, with four in total at the scene. He was conveyed to Morriston Hospital where he further assaulted officers, as well as a hospital security guard. He was described as spitting at and biting them.

“He was then returned to Brecon Police Station where he assaulted additional police officers. In total, three required medical treatment at hospital.”

Closure Order

Meanwhile, Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court granted a closure order on June 22, brought on behalf of Dyfed Powys Police in relation to anti-social behaviour at Corrington’s Little Free Street home.

A closure order allows police to ban visitors from attending a property that is associated with offensive, anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Prosecutor Nia Jones said there was “extensive evidence” to suggest people attending Corrington’s home were likely to engage in disorderly or criminal behaviour.

The order will last for an initial period of three months.