A Milford man who made an offensive hand gesture towards a police officer has been given a 12-month conditional discharge.
Twenty-five-year-old Joshua Stephens, of Marble Hall Road, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court, on Tuesday, charged with using threatening behaviour towards a police officer, on Victoria Road in Milford Haven.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that it was 6.15 pm, on July 23, when the police officer in question was in his vehicle on an emergency call.
“He had the car’s lights on and was heading towards Hakin when the officer saw the driver of a vehicle beside the road, stick his hand out and make a rude gesture towards the police car.
“The officer didn’t stop, but went back to speak to the driver later on. There were members of the public on the road who would have seen the gesture,” continued Mr. Pritchard-Jones, who explained that Mr. Stephens was currently subject to a community order.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told magistrates that his client was a “young boy... being an idiot” and simply showing off in front of his friend.
Magistrates gave Mr. Stephens a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.