A Pembroke Dock man who threatened to break a police officer’s jaw, before refusing to provide a breath specimen when suspected of drink-driving was sent to jail this week.

Thirty-six-year-old Mark Stephen Hearne, of Arthur Street, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, to face charges of failing to provide a specimen for analysis; failing to stop after a road accident; and driving a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

Prosecutor Mr. Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told magistrates that these were very serious motoring offences, which occurred on August 14, stating that the defendant had been “totally uncooperative” with the police when they were dealing with the incident.

The court heard how on the night of the incident, a witness living in Gwyther Street, Pembroke Dock, heard a loud bang outside their property and saw a vehicle which had collided with the rear side of his wife’s car reversing away.

“Mr. Hearne was seen driving away, but the whole bumper of the car he was in was ripped off, with the number plate still on it,” explained Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

Other witnesses in the area saw the vehicle driving along without a number plate, and police caught up with the car on Arthur Street being driven very slowly with extensive damage caused to it.

“Officers pulled in front of the vehicle and when Mr. Hearne got out he was so intoxicated that he forgot to put the handbrake on,” continued Mr. Pritchard-Jones, stating that the defendant was “stumbling” and his eyes were “narrow”.

When arrested and taken to Haverfordwest Police Station, Mr. Hearne, who the court heard worked for a local roofing company, wouldn’t answer any questions put to him by officers, and the only thing he said was “I’ll break your jaw before I do this test” when he was asked to provide a breath specimen.

A fast delivery report given to the court by probation officer Amy Wyrwyll who interviewed Mr. Hearne, explained that the defendant admitted he hadn’t stopped his vehicle as he didn’t want to get caught.

“He does feel that he has issues with alcohol that he’d like to address, but it mainly consists of binge drinking on weekends,” she told the court.

Magistrates said that this was a very serious offence which would result in a custodial sentence.

Mr. Hearne was given 16 weeks custody for failing to provide a specimen and 12 weeks for failing to stop after a road accident, with the sentences to run concurrently.

He was disqualified from driving for five years, and ordered to pay costs of £85, an £80 victim surcharge and a court charge of £150.