A MAN has been jailed after trying to bite a police officer in a busy A&E department.

Connor Anthony Buckley, 24, of Bryn Awel in Pentre Halkyn, was sentenced at Mold Crown Court for both the assault and for breaching the terms of a criminal behaviour order. The order, which was made on January 10 last year, made it clear that Buckley, an alcoholic, was not to be drunk in a public place, or be abusive to members of the public.

However, on November 24, he was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital for treatment and while in a triage room, became abusive to a staff nurse, saying how he was “going to come at you and bite your nose off”.

The nurse had already requested the paramedics who brought Buckley to hospital, to remain in the room while she treated him because he had been using threatening and intimidating language.

Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, told the court how the police were called, as what should have taken 10 minutes, had now taken more than half an hour, with the hospital’s A&E department being particularly busy that day.

When the police arrived, the defendant was clearly under the influence of alcohol and was topless, clenching his fists, shouting how he would take everyone on.

One officer was told “come at me and it’s next level”, before Buckley broke down in tears and had to be restrained.

Mr Roberts added the defendant tried to assault one of the police officers by biting his forearm, but had been able to move his arm away before he could sink his teeth in.

Brian Treadwell, defending, said his client had been an alcoholic for several years, with many of the issues he faces as an adult stemming from a childhood that saw him taken into care. Mr Treadwell told the court how his client’s drinking had got significantly worse about four years ago when he found the body of his 34-year-old brother.

He said: “My client understands that the starting point for any rehabilitation has to be with him.

“The reality is that the people that were affected by his behaviour that day would have had the sense to realise he was a drunk man who has significant problems, so any impact on the victims is likely to be low and short term.

“All his offences are done in drink and clearly has work to do.”

Jailing him for 12 months for breaching the terms of the CBO, His Honour Judge Hew Rees told Buckley that he was still a young man and how he should use him time in custody to think about the impact his behaviour has on others.

Buckley was also sentenced to four months in prison for assaulting the police officer, with that punishment to run concurrently.