PC faces disciplinary action after Welshpool wedding chaos

Natasha Haf Jones, 38, of North Wales Police, had attended the function at Garthmyl Hall country house near Welshpool with her husband last October.

But prosecutor Rhian Jackson told Llandudno Magistrates' Court how the off-duty officer, of Ffordd y Felin, Dolgellau, had travelled to the venue with other guests on a bus – and that they were drunk when they arrived.

“The manager states that many of them were falling over drunk and the group were one of the rowdiest the venue had in a long time,” Mrs Jackson said.

Caretaker Andrew Reeve had been working in the bar during the evening and told by a glass collector that two people were fighting – including the former Dyfed-Powys officer.

Mr Reeve feared she was going to “kick off” with someone and put his arms up in a gesture to stop her passing him. Mrs Jackson said she reacted by punching him in the face.

She was saying: "I’m a police sergeant.”

The defendant’s brother and another woman grabbed Jones and they ended up rolling around on the floor.

Garthmyl Hall near Welshpool

Later Jones was seen slouched in a corner with her head in her hands and upset. The prosecutor said the policewoman “became aggressive and was swinging punches at her brother and trying to strangle him”.

The pair were split up and Jones’s husband was told she needed to leave the venue.

But she insulted Mr Reeve, and when he shouted for the police to be called as she approached him, she "got right into his face and said ‘I’m the police. Let’s see what happens when they get here and who they listen to'".

She lunged towards him in an unsuccessful bid to headbutt him, he believed.

Jones had also smashed her sister-in-law’s head against a wall.

When police attended, Jones told a PC not to put his hands on her as she was a police sergeant.

Mrs Jackson added that Mr Reeve had been shocked by the trouble at the venue and he didn’t expect it as “there were a lot of police officers present at the wedding”.

Jones admitted three charges of common assault on Mr Reeve and Caroline Roberts.

Richard Black, defending, said Jones had anxiety and depression. Previously she’d arrested a man, who she knew, for domestic violence and during the hour-long journey from Dolgellau to custody at Caernarfon she had been subjected to a barrage of personal abuse and threats.

“She says she’s a hardened police officer. But for some reason this incident had a massive effect on her,” Mr Black said. “She had already been suffering with cutbacks and lack of officers. This seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

She had been a regular drinker and a rugby player but had cut back on alcohol before her night out at the wedding last year.

Mr Black said she now faced the sack after 13 years as a police officer and PCSO. He added: “My client wishes to express her apologies publicly. She’s made peace with her sister-in law.”

District judge Gwyn Jones told Jones: "It’s clear to me you consumed a copious and excessive amount of alcohol which had a significant impact.

“During the course of your experience with the police service both in North Wales and Dyfed-Powys I would have thought the consequences of drinking too much ought to have been clear to you.

"This is a significant fall from grace. You were extremely well-regarded.”

Jones must do 160 hours unpaid work and pay £300 compensation to Mr Reeve and £340 costs.

Superintendent Nick Evans of the force Professional Standards Department acknowledged the outcome of the officer’s attendance in court and confirmed that police conduct proceedings will follow.