A man who spat in a police officer’s face and kicked him in the cheek after dodging a taxi fare and smashing up a minibus, is due to be sentenced today (Wednesday).

Appearing in front of Haverfordwest magistrates last month Lawrence James Goldsworthy, of Yerbeston, pleaded guilty to making off without paying for a £25 taxi journey.

The 25-year-old admitted damaging a silver Ford Transit minibus belonging to the same taxi firm, smashing windows and destroying bodywork to the value of £489 and subsequently assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

Lesley Harbon, prosecuting, told the court that on December 6, Goldsworthy had taken a taxi from Narberth to Tenby with Tenby Taxis.

He got out of the cab saying that he was going to get money from the Bush Inn.

However, he did not return.

At around 3am the following morning he took a minibus taxi home with the same firm.

Following an alleged altercation with the driver he used his hands and a stone to smash the taxi’s windows and damage the bodywork.

When officers arrived at the scene Goldsworthy was highly abusive and struggled as he got into the van, kicking PC Daniel Thomas in the cheek.

He shouted “I’ll kick you again, I’ll spit in your face” before spitting in the policeman’s eyes and mouth.

Halfway through trial magistrates dropped two additional charges of assaulting a taxi driver and a making off without payment, saying they did not believe that there was a case to answer.

The court heard that Goldsworthy was jailed for 40 weeks in 2012 for actual bodily harm but had not been in court since then.

Defending himself, Goldsworthy apologised for assaulting the officer.

“I was frustrated and drunk,” he said.

“It’s not something I have ever done before in my life. I have been arrested over 100 times, I have had quite a bad past.

“I thought I was more innocent than I was, being intoxicated.”

Magistrates released Goldsworthy on unconditional bail until his sentencing on March 4.

They advised him to cooperate fully with the probation service in the compilation of a pre-sentencing report.