A MAN who assaulted a woman in the early hours of the morning and then attacked a motorist who tried to help her has been jailed.

Thomas Matthew Loftus, of Argoed in Kinmel Bay, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence on Thursday.

The 26-year-old had previously admitted offences of affray, common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault against emergency worker.

Brian Treadwell, prosecuting, told the court the common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm related to Loftus' behaviour in Greenfield in October 2019.

A woman in the area early one morning was approached by Loftus and another man, who was drinking from a vodka bottle and appeared under the influence of alcohol.

They were saying things she couldn't understand and smirking, before one of them groped her bottom and they laughed at her.

At first she didn't know which of them had touched her, but it happened again and she saw Loftus.

The court heard Loftus followed the woman and continued to mock her, when a passing motorist saw her in distress and stopped to help.

Loftus pushed him in the back and he fell to the floor, breaking bones in his hand as well as injuring his mouth.

The police attended the scene and arrested him.

His mocking behaviour continued with the officers and in the North Wales Police custody suite at Llay he spat on an officer's back.

The affray matter arise from an incident at a petrol station in Saint Helens, where the court heard he was seen trying to attack another man with a fork - the incident being witnessed by a mum and child who were present.

Simon Killeen, defending, said: "The common assault was an unpleasant incident and clearly there is distress. "He can be caring in his own family and provides important care.

"He's making efforts to change his lifestyle and has an offer of employment."

Judge Rhys Rowlands said Loftus' behaviour to the woman had been "boorish and unacceptable," labelling his spit at the police officer as "a thoroughly disgusting act."

He handed down a 12 month sentence for the assault occasioning actually bodily harm, a consecutive three months for the assault against the police officer and a further consecutive six months for the affray.

No separate penalty was imposed for the common assault.