A MAN who used abusive behaviour 'within metres of a children's hospital ward' and assaulted police officers has been spared jail.

Andrew Churchill, of Delfryn in Penycae, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday.

The 38-year-old admitted numerous offences, including:

  • Assault emergency worker x2
  • Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour
  • Criminal damage
  • Harassment

Shane Maddocks, prosecuting, told the court that on August 27 this year, police received a call about a "domestic incident" unfolding in Penycae.

Two officers attended the scene and spoke with the victim, Churchill's ex-girlfriend.

She told the police the defendant had been intoxicated in the street and could be heard to shout: "Everyone's getting it," which he followed up by slamming her wooden garden gate, damaging it - which constituted the criminal damage.

As officers were taking the victim's statement, Churchill returned, and as they attempted to arrest him, a struggle took place as he attempted to free himself.

The two assault emergency service worker offences occurred as, during the struggle, one of the officers received bruising to their fingers and the other sustained a scratch to the wrist due to Churchill forcing the handcuffs onto them.

En-route to the police station, the defendant was banging on the vehicle's cell windows.

He was subsequently taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where the abusive behaviour took place.

In the public waiting room at A&E, Churchill was behaving aggressively "within metres of the children's ward."

The defendant was bailed with conditions not to approach his ex-girlfriend, but on September 7 he called her and said: "I'm going to come up there now and you're going to let me in.

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"She watched from the window of her property as he banged on her door and "started flexing his upper body  in the back garden in an intimidating manner."

Euros Jones, defending, said: "Their relationship has come to an end, and Mr Churchill finds it more difficult.

"Unfortunately he has turned back to alcohol.

"A sentence imposed in April this year included an alcohol abstinence requirement.

"He completed that and it was of great assistance, but unfortunately because of the breakup, he's used the crutch of alcohol to get over it - with the usual results.

"It is accepted that the assault on the emergency was committed on a reckless basis, when he resisted in the way he did.

"The harassment is an incident which happened while he was on bail for the other matters."

Mr Jones said his client had gone to see if his ex-girlfriend "was ok," and when she told him she didn't want to see him, Churchill responded in an "incorrect manner."

A probation officer told the court the defendant is currently on a community order until April 2025, and that "when he attends, he engages well."

However, the officer said: "It is of concern he finds himself before the court again, binge drinking seems to be an ongoing issue with him."

The Magistrates handed down an overall custodial sentence of ten weeks, but suspended it for two years.

A two-year restraining order was imposed to protect Churchill's ex-partner.

The defendant must pay costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £154 and undertake 120 days of alcohol abstinence and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.