Man fined for assaulting police at Wrexham farm

Adam Orr, of Golftyn Drive in Connah's Quay, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Thursday. 

The 34-year-old admitted having obstructed a police officer, as well as assaulting an officer, at Rackery Farm in Wrexham on April Fools' Day last year.

Michael Whitty, prosecuting, told the court that on April 1 last year police were called to the scene, in Rossett, to arrest him in connection with enquiries that were not ultimately brought before the courts.

They found him in a field and he drove over to them in a van, before being told he was under arrest.

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But Orr proceeded to express his own opinions on the situation and refused to hand over his young son - saying he would instead take him to his father's.

When he was told this was not an option, Orr became agitated and started to drive off, reversing at pace into a bank of soil.

"Get the f*** off now," he told the officers during a struggle to get the key out of the ignition.

The driver's side window was smashed in the process and one of the officers injured his arm.

Orr drove off at speed, but ultimately the van became bogged down and stuck in a field.

A North Wales Police vehicle

When he was tracked down he was told again that he was under arrest and that he shouldn't use his son as a "shield" to try stopping the process.

An attempt to restrain him was made, but the defendant struck out with his forearm, pushing one of the officers and hurling more abuse.

In the end, as many as 12 officers turned up at the farm to assist.

When the defendant's father arrived and his son was handed over, he was physically restrained.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said the officers' hands had been tied in terms of how they could deal with the matter given Orr's refusals to be restrained and the proximity of his child.

He said he'd acted like "a complete and utter idiot" and made the situation "very difficult" for the police.

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Richard Edwards, defending, said: "He's a hard working man and his work currently finds him in the Wolverhampton area."

He said the officers' comments about him using his son as a way to prolong the arrest had angered him further.

But the Judge said: "If a police officer tells us we are under arrest that's it.

"Whatever we think about the merits of the arrest, we have to comply.

"It was wholly unacceptable behaviour culminating in your becoming aggressive.

"This was a standoff. You weren't prepared to be arrested and you were throwing your weight around - all this with your young son present."

For the assault, he was fined £500 - with a further fine of £250 for the resist offence.

Compensation of £250 was ordered to be paid to the officer who cut his arm and Orr must also pay £1,000 costs, as well as a £75 victim surcharge.

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