A FORMER Gwent Police officer who resigned from the force after he headbutted a fellow drinker during a fight outside a pub was told he would have lost his job had he not resigned.

A misconduct hearing was held after Police Constable Jonathan Freeman pleaded guilty in September to affray at the New Foresters bar on Blackwood High Street.

The former officer attended Gwent Police headquarters in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, for a special case hearing to answer allegations that his conduct amounted to a “breach of the standards of professional behaviour in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, use of force and discreditable conduct”.

The allegations against Freeman were:

• On November 11, 2017 he “headbutted, punched and knee struck James Richards”

• On September 2018, at Newport Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the offence of affray

• He was convicted of the offence and fined £500 to be paid within seven days

Chief Constable Julian Williams last month found the allegations proven and “as the officer had already resigned from Gwent Police prior to the proceedings, the outcome was that he would have been dismissed had he still be serving with the police service”.

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

Prosecutor John Ryan said the 31-year-old became involved in a brawl with 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.

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.”

After fining them £500 each, the judge added: “No court should see either of you again.”