A MAN has been found guilty of punching a police officer during a violent incident in Brynmawr earlier this year.

Damien Jones, aged 32, of Vincent Avenue, Nantyglo, was on trial accused of being part of a mob which left three Gwent police officers with injuries. He denied a charge of violent disorder.

A further count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was thrown out by Judge Neil Bidder QC because, he said, both charges were reliant on the same evidence.

Prosecutor James Wilson told Cardiff Crown Court that officers were called to Brynmawr Market Square on June 16 after a robbery suspect believed to be armed with a hammer was spotted.

But when PC Christine Cook, PC Carrie Brookman and PC Glen Edmunds tried to arrest him, a crowd reacted angrily.

Members of a crowd of around 10 people filmed the officers, swore at them, and called them names including “pigs”, the court heard.

PC Cook wept in the dock as she told the jury earlier this week how she decided to spray some of the “most aggressive” members of the crowd with PAVA spray [known as pepper spray].

After this she said a woman punched her in the face and she heard words to the effect of “go Big Sherman” –Jones’ nickname – after she was knocked to the ground.

PC Cook, five feet three inches tall, was taken to hospital suffering black eyes, a broken nose, a deviated septum, a laceration to her left eyebrow and bruises to her arm. She was off work for three months following the incident.

When PC Cook’s colleague PC Edmunds pushed the woman away from her, he was punched by three men including Jones.

Jones was picked out from an ID parade by Carl Vale, who gave evidence at the trial, and said he had intervened and pulled Jones away from the police officer.

Judge Bidder QC praised the “extremely brave” actions of Mr Vale and said he should be awarded with a £50 reward by the county sheriff.

PC Brookman also told the court how she was repeatedly struck to her head and back and felt “dazed”.

After remanding Jones in custody, Judge Bidder QC said a “considerable period in custody is inevitable”. He will be sentenced on January 16.