A REVELLER covered in mud and blood who insulted and swore at police after he was thrown out of a house party and attacked by a friend was fined.

Officers were called to a report of a fight in Llanfoist just before Christmas and found Rhys Evans in his dishevelled state on Abergavenny’s Merthyr Road.

Prosecutor Rob Simpkins told Newport Magistrates’ Court how the 22-year-old was also in his bare feet after being ejected from a get-together on December 16.

He said Evans subjected the police officers to a “tirade of abuse” after they tried to calm him down.

The defendant, the court was told, accused them of being of no help to him.

After they failed to pacify him, Evans was arrested and taken to Newport Central Police station.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and failing to surrender after he didn’t turn up in court for a scheduled hearing over this offence.

Evans, of no fixed abode, appeared before magistrates from custody.

Mr Simpkins said the defendant had 10 previous convictions for 12 offences, including theft, public disorder and common assault.

Evans’ solicitor Jamie Campbell said in mitigation that his client had entered guilty pleas.

He told how the defendant had recently been spending time “sofa surfing” and led a “chaotic lifestyle”.

Mr Campbell added that Evans had been invited to the house party and was supposed to spend the night there.

But an argument over a coat broke out between him and a friend who ended up assaulting him, magistrates were told.

“He was punched by his friend and thrown to the floor – he was covered in blood and mud,” Mr Campbell said.

The court was further told that the unemployed Evans suffered from mental health issues and had previously self-harmed.

He was fined £80, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £30.