A HOLIDAYMAKER shouted and swore at police in Tenby and claimed he was an officer himself, Haverfordwest magistrates court heard last week.

William Hancocks, 34, of Victoria Road, Nuneaton, opted to plead guilty to using words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress via his defence solicitor, Jonathon Webb.

Lisa McCormick, prosecuting, said officers driving down St George’s Street saw a female laying on the ground, with Hancocks – who has previous unrelated convictions - “hovering over her”.

The officers stopped, and attempted to move Hancocks away. He immediately began shouting and swearing, and made several attempts to push the officer.

As he was arrested, Hancocks shouted “I’m a police officer and I rank above you”. He behaved in an “aggressive and threatening” manner, and continued to shout abuse when he was taken to the police station and strip-searched.

“It was originally thought he had perpetrated a crime against his partner, who was the woman on the floor, but she was just drunk and had fallen over,” said Mr Webb. “Being sworn at is part and parcel of being a police officer. This happened at 1am. I don’t think anyone around at that time would necessarily have felt distressed by my client’s behaviour.”

Magistrates fined Hancocks £160 and ordered him to pay £105 in costs and a surcharge.