A police constable from Newtown sprayed incapacitating spray in the face of a detainee in handcuffs, a Dyfed-Powys Police misconduct hearing heard.

On May 27 last year PC Jonathan Reynolds allegedly used his PAVA spray - which is similar to pepper spray - at close range into the face of a detainee who was handcuffed at the time.

While taking the man to custody, PC Reynolds alsoused derogatory and insulting language towards him, and pushed him into the wall and floor of the cell.

PC Reynolds resigned from his role earlier this month, but the force's chief constable Mark Collins said he would have been sacked for his actions. He has now been barred from the force.

The hearing held at Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters in Carmarthenshire this morning (Friday, June 19) heard that on arrival at the custody suite, PC Reynolds used an "excessive level of force" against the detainee, pushing him to the floor and into a wall whilst directing further derogatory and insulting language towards him.

As a result of the use of force used on the detainee, PC Reynolds was charged with two counts of common assault. PC Reynolds was convicted of both offences at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on February 26, 2020 and is due to be sentenced on Monday.

Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Mark Collins said: "Dyfed-Powys Police expects and demands the highest standards of professional behaviour from its officers and staff. Police officers are rightly held to a high standard of behaviour because they are trusted by our communities to conduct enquiries and investigations with respect, and to treat with dignity members of the public they come into contact with.

“Former PC Jonathan Reynolds behaviour as set out in this case has fallen far below the standards required of a police officer at Dyfed-Powys Police, and he clearly breached standards of professional behaviour relating to ‘Use of Force’, ‘Authority, Respect and Courtesy’, and ‘Discreditable Conduct’. His actions on May 27 2019 were unacceptable, and such behaviour will not be tolerated.

“He resigned from his position as a police constable earlier this month, but at the conclusion of the hearing, it was determined that former PC Reynolds would have been dismissed instantly had he still been a member of the police force. This outcome will ensure that he is included on the College of Policing Barred List, which will prohibit him from working within policing in future".