A Milford man who became verbally abusive towards police officers who knocked on his door to arrest him has been fined in court.

Thirty-two-year-old Shaun Anthony Nolan, of Howarth Close, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, to plead guilty to a charge of obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that the incident occurred on August 26, when police officers arrived at the defendant’s home.

“They knocked on the door and Mr. Nolan answered, and initially co-operated, but then became verbally abusive towards the officers as he realised they were there to arrest him.

“He had his two young daughters in the house who at this point were screaming, and Mr. Nolan tried to use them as a way of stopping the officers from arresting him, telling them ‘hold on to daddy so they can’t take me - come on don’t let go’.

“He then started using foul and abusive language towards the officers in front of his kids,” she continued.

Magistrates were shown body-cam footage from one of the arresting officers, where Mr. Nolan is seen swearing in front of his children, and at the officers, calling them ‘stinking animals’.

Officers warn him to calm down and not to spit at them or they would be forced to handcuff him or use incapacity spray.

The footage showed Mr. Nolan swearing in front of his children, and at the officers, calling them ‘stinking animals’.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that the background to the incident was somewhat ‘emotive’ as Mr. Nolan who had custody of his two children, had been working nearby at the Post Office where he helps out, and as he could see his daughters’ mother’s garden from that location, a matter led him to go and pick them up and take them back to his home.

“Mr. Nolan contacted the police himself to state that he had been assaulted by his ex, so when officers arrived at his house, believing they were there to take a statement, he became upset and distressed when they threatened to cuff him for an unrelated matter.

“The police are in the property trying to take him away, the kids are upset, and Mr. Nolan is annoyed as he believes he is the victim.

“Ultimately a neighbour comes over to look after the children whilst Mr. Nolan is taken away. This was clearly a one-off,” added Mr. Webb.

Describing the scenes in the body-cam footage as ‘very upsetting’ magistrates handed Mr. Nolan a £40 fine for the offence, and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge.