A GWENT Police officer who headbutted a fellow drinker during a fight outside a busy town centre pub has been suspended from duty.

Police Constable Jonathan Freeman’s career appears to be in tatters after he pleaded guilty to affray at the New Foresters bar on Blackwood High Street.

Newport Crown Court heard how trouble flared after a woman had waved a lighter near the off-duty officer’s face on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

Following his conviction, Gwent Police confirmed that PC Freeman had been suspended since the incident and will now be the subject of disciplinary proceedings.

Edward Mitchard, representing him, said his client was a “serving police officer who would not be going back”.

Prosecutor John Ryan told the court how the 31-year-old became involved in a brawl with James Richards.

He said door staff had tried to separate the two after “words were exchanged” after the lighter was brandished.

Judge Neil Bidder QC heard how Freeman, of High Street, Newbridge, then headbutted Richards “who wouldn’t let it drop” twice outside the pub, witnessed by bouncers and a “number of other people”.

They grappled on the floor before the fight broke up.

Neither men had any previous convictions, Mr Ryan told the court.

Richards, aged 25, of Pentref-y-groes Farm, Coedpenmaen, near Crumlin, also pleaded guilty to affray.

Before any mitigation could be presented to the court, the judge told the defendants’ counsel that he would only be imposing a fine on them and asked if they still wanted to make submissions.

In light of his decision, none was offered by either Mr Mitchard or Hannah George who was representing Richards.

Judge Bidder told the defendants: “This was a disgraceful fight outside a pub in Blackwood, an affray. It appears to have started inside.

“There was serious violence and both of you have now lost your good character. That is punishment in itself.”

Fining them £500 each, Judge Bidder added: “No court should see either of you again.”

Outside the court, a Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “Gwent Police investigated an incident that occurred outside the New Foresters pub on the High Street in Blackwood on 11th November last year.

“Two men have today pleaded guilty to affray.

“We can confirm that one of the men, Jonathan Freeman, is a serving Gwent police constable. “The officer has been suspended from duty since the incident and remains so pending the outcome of an internal misconduct investigation.”