A FORMER soldier who attacked a police officer attempting to arrest him on suspicion of drink driving has been jailed for 18 months.

Thomas Nickless also brandished a knife as he vandalised his former partner’s home, including breaking her children’s toys and slashing a baby’s mattress.

After hearing of the defendant’s “catalogue of offending” in Cyffylliog near Ruthin, Judge Rhys Rowlands was aghast when he read a letter from his ex, describing him as the “most perfect partner to her”.

The judge declared: “There is no way the court is going to be dictated to by a letter like this.

“You took knife out with you and ended up assaulting a police officer.

“Your behaviour turns for the worse when you have been drinking.”

Mold Crown Court heard how Nickless was said to be a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure, who was prone to domestic violence. He received a custodial sentence in 2017 for making threats to kill and assaulting a police officer called to deal with his offending.

He was also carrying a knife on him on that occasion and the judge noted: “There seems to be a history of violent behaviour towards partners and towards police officers, drinking to excess and having a knife on you.”

After moving to Wales, Nickless struck up a relationship with Kirsty Francis whom he had met while they were both serving in the army.

They argued about her going to a hen do and wedding and Ms Francis went to stay with her mother.

He he went round and “booted through the door” at Ms Francis’ mothers and made threats to ruin the wedding.

Ms Francis told him she wanted to end the relationship, but the next day she took him to a GP surgery in Ruthin to seek help for his drinking and depression.

But he contacted her later in the day and told her he had “trashed” her house.

Nickless told her that he had “flipped” his car and said he was sorry as he would be going to prison.

Among the extensive damage he caused at the property was to photographs of himself and his partner and children which along with a mattress he had slashed with a kitchen knife.

Eggs and tomato sauce were found daubed on walls and children’s toys and a TV were damaged.

Later, a police officer, Anthony O’Neill, found Nickless “heavily intoxicated”, but he denied driving a Citroen car which had been in collision with a neighbour’s Rover vehicle.

A breath test later showed he was three-and-a-half times over the legal driving limit (125ml).

The PC seized some steroids from the defendant and placed Nickless in his patrol car, but he left his leg trailing to prevent the door being closed.

“As the PC went to stop him the defendant repeatedly punched in the face and forced the door back,” said prosecuting barrister Maria Masselis.

“He had the officer in a chokehold before he managed to get the handcuffs on him.”

Onlookers were pleading at Nickless that he leave the lone officer, who suffered soft tissue injuries in the attack, alone.

Nickless, 34, of Maes y Delyn, Cyffylliog admitted assault on an emergency worker, criminal damage, possession of a bladed article, drink driving and perverting the course of justice, all on July 9 this year. He also admitted driving without insurance and with no valid licence.

The court was told he had reported the car being stolen before the incident.

Defence barrister Simon Rogers said: “Fortunately the injuries sustained by the officer were relatively minor.

“At times of conflict he struggles to cope and he turns to alcohol. He toured Afghanistan. But he was thrown out of the army and his life has spiralled out of control.”

Nickless was also banned from driving for 45 months.