Police custody sergeant punched unconscious in Caernarfon cell
A police custody sergeant was knocked unconscious with a punch thrown by a man who had already assaulted two police constables and another man. Gary Wyn Morgan, 33, of Love Lane, Bangor, launched the "unprovoked" assault on Sergeant Phillip Kennedy in a cell at the custody suite in Caernarfon.
Prosecutor Elen Owen told Caernarfon Crown Court that police had been called to an incident near Marks & Spencer's in Bangor last August. Morgan swore then hit PC Aron Owen, before being Tasered, for resisting arrest.
He also spat in PC David Newall’s face. He was taken into custody and then punched Sgt Kennedy, causing him to fall to the floor and bang his head on a wall, Ms Owen told the court. North Wales Live has launched a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
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The prosecutor said other officers dragged their unconscious colleague out of the cell and he went to hospital. Sgt Kennedy described the assault as "entirely unprovoked and the first time in his 25-year police career that he has been assaulted", the court heard.
Sgt Kennedy needed a number of stitches inside his cheek. Morgan was jailed for two years after he admitted assaulting Sgt Kennedy causing actual bodily harm, assaulting another man and two assaults on emergency workers.
Speaking after sentencing, Chief Inspector Stephen Pawson said: "Morgan’s violent behaviour against police officers was simply disgraceful. Violence has no place in Gwynedd, and we are all aware that one punch can have devastating and even fatal consequences."
"We will not tolerate any assault against an emergency service worker whilst trying to do their jobs to keep others safe. This incident will no doubt have a long-lasting impact, not only on the officers who were assaulted, but on their colleagues as well.
"We will continue to deal robustly with offenders who risk the safety of our community members."
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