Man tasered four times in most 'aggressive and volatile' situation officer had ever encountered

A man was tasered four times by police in what's been described as the most "aggressive and volatile" situation an officer had ever encountered.

The incident happened at Rassau in Ebbw Vale on 3 April whem PC Roberts was called to assist in stopping a Land Rover driven by 41-year-old Adam Challenger, which did not have working rear lights or a rear window, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

After approaching the vehicle and asking Challenger to remove the keys and step out of the car, the court heard how he replied in an aggressive manner and refused, then became argumentative, telling him: "F*** off, what are you going to do? Try and f****** arrest me", whilst claiming he was being harassed.

Members of the public began crowding round the car, causing the officer to become concerned that Challenger might drive off and put others at risk.

He was also concerned Challenger might be under the influence of something due to his "bloodshot eyes".The officer reached into the vehicle to attempt to remove the keys from the ignition, but as he did so, Challenger grabbed his arm and pulled him towards him. Challenger then attempted to reverse the vehicle, but the officer reached in again and was able to remove the keys.The court heard how Challenger then became physically aggressive, grabbing the officer by the arm, attempting to pull him into the car.

The officer opened the door and Challenger walked towards him aggressively "ready to fight" and "tensing up".He discharged his taser, which had no effect on Challenger, who waved the wires away from him and continued to walk towards PC Halford.

A second officer at the scene then attempted to assist and discharged his own taser, which had a momentary effect on Challenger, before he again walked towards the officers.At this stage, the first officer "became increasingly concerned" that the matter might escalate, and discharged his taser again. On that occasion, he fell to the floor, but got back up, before being tasered again.

The court heard he had also kicked out at PC Roberts to his lower back.

He was eventually detained and taken to custody.Prosecutor Bethan Evans explained how a search was carried out in the Land Rover vehicle and inside officers discovered two knuckle dusters within a gilet jacket.

The first officer noted that he had "never dealt with someone as aggressive and volatile as Challenger", and that it was the first time in his nine-year career as an officer that he'd had to discharge his taser, explaining how he felt if he had not used it he might have been injured.The following day, on 4 April, whilst he was in custody, a search was carried out of Challenger's home and a sawn-off double barrelled shotgun with a bag of shotgun cartridges were discovered.

It had been cut down below the legal limit of 18 inches, and there were two live cartridges within the barrel of the shotgun.In a prepared statement given at the police station, Challenger said he was shocked when the officer reached into his car and wasn't sure what he was doing.

He accepted he grabbed the officer to get the keys back but denied he kicked anyone to the back. He said he was tasered and accepted he "recklessly caused damage to the handcuffs as a result".

He added he was not aware the knuckle dusters were in his car, then answered 'no comment' in regard to the firearms matter.Challenger appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing, having been convicted at Newport Magistrates' Court of two counts of common assault of an emergency worker, possessing a shortened shotgun, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, and causing criminal damage.

Challenger's solicitor, Harry Baker, said: "He asks me to apologise to the court and also the officers. He understands he should not have behaved like that. He is not a young man anymore but you can see from his pre-sentence report that he has had various difficulties in his childhood and various personal problems that were affecting him at the time in terms of deaths in his family."Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Challenger he presented an "aggressive and obstructive attitude" at the scene. She sentenced him to two years in prison.

A deprivation order was made for the shotgun, shotgun cartridges and the knuckle dusters.