A GWENT mechanic thrown out of a city centre pub went "berserk" as officers tried to arrest him, a court heard.

Matthew Williams butted the doors of a police van and bit a police constable on his forearm, Cardiff crown court was told.

He also lashed out at another officer, prosecutor Beverley Cripps said yesterday. Williams, of Ty Canol, Cwmbran, was jailed for nine months after being told the police were doing their jobs and entitled to the protection of the courts.

The 24-year-old was previously convicted by Cwmbran magistrates of one charge of causing actual bodily harm and two of resisting a police officer.

He had been committed to the crown court for sentence. Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones told him: "You recognise that persons who attack police officers carrying out their duties face a custodial sentence. Police officers are entitled to the protection of the courts."

Miss Cripps told the court that at about 8pm on Sunday, February 10, because of boisterous behaviour Williams and his friends were ejected from the Old Monk pub in Newport.

He broke a window at the pub and when police officers arrived they tried to arrest him. He said at that point Williams went berserk. He head butted the doors of the police van and bit PC Kevin Knights on the forearm.

He continued to struggle and lashed out and struck PC Sian Lewis-Evans in the face. He later admitted what he had done and said it was because he was drunk.

Kevin Seal, mitigating, said Williams was sorry for his actions that night. He added: "There was genuine remorse for what happened and he was forthright from the start. He is not unintelligent and realises what he did. He had had too much to drink and, egged on by friends, behaved in a reprehensible way."