A man who threatened to fight people and threw chairs around his caravan before punching a police officer in the face has been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.
Officers were called to Morfa Bychan Holiday Park near Aberystwyth after other holidaymakers complained about Michael Dainty's behaviour. The court heard on Monday that Dainty engaged in a “scuffle” with officers when they informed him he would be arrested.
Incident details
Prosecutor Sarah John told the court that officers received a call to attend the site at around 10.15pm on August 23, 2025. Dainty was under the influence of alcohol, had been threatening to fight people on the site, and threw chairs around his caravan.
When officers arrived, Dainty was “dismissive” and resisted officers from entering his caravan. He told them that the complaints were just about his music being played too loud.
Violence towards officers
PC Barnsley and Sergeant Hawksworth entered the caravan, and it was heard that Dainty was compliant at first but “reacted with violence” when officers informed him of his arrest. This involved Dainty pushing PC Barnsley. When Sergeant Hawksworth attempted to intervene, he felt a blow to his head, which may have been caused by Dainty's arm, and fell onto the sofa. Dainty then fell on top of Sergeant Hawksworth.
At this point PC Rees entered the caravan, and it was heard how Dainty punched the left side of the officer's face, causing his mouth to bleed. Officers were eventually able to get Dainty in handcuffs and he was led to the police vehicle. On their way to the vehicle, Dainty tripped PC Guichard over and fell on top of him.
While outside the caravan, Ms John said Dainty threatened the officers with violence, saying he would “take them all on” and “put them on their a***”. He also called them c****, she said. All the while around 30 people from the site watched on, including children.
Previous convictions and sentence
Dainty, of Eaton Crescent, Swansea, previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker and using threatening words or behaviour. He has 10 convictions for 14 offences, including two convictions for battery in 2013 for the assault of his former partner and her friend. In 2016, Dainty threatened to stab a police officer with a needle and threatened to rub his bleeding hands across the officer's face.
Caitlin Brazel, defending Dainty, told the court that her client understood the “enormity” of his actions and is “regretful” for how he behaved. She said Dainty has used alcohol as a coping mechanism and can “see for himself” that the issue needs addressing. She added that Dainty is a father of two and cares for his own father.
Judge Christopher John Vosper KC sentenced Dainty to a community order for 24 months. He must also complete a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work, and a 120-day alcohol abstinence order.
