A man in court accused of a crime climbed on the desk and tried to arrest the judge as the trial got underway.
Daniel Hughes made his way across a courtroom at Swansea Magistrates Court, climbed a desk and attempted a citizens’ arrest on the judge and told him he did not recognise his authority.
The 37-year-old from Port Talbot, south Wales, was eventually wrestled to the ground by security guards after targeting district judge Neale Thomas.
Court staff worked hard to safeguard the judge who was overseeing proceedings where Hughes was charged with assault after an incident outside his home.
He was taken to the cells after the fracas but refused to return to the courtroom for his trial.
In his absence, a Neath Port Talbot council enforcement officer, Kyle Gasson, told the court he had been sent to Mr Hughes’ home in July this year after he failed to respond to correspondence about the issue which had been sent to him.
The officer told the court he had fitted a clamp to Hughes’ vehicle, prompting him to threaten him before grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, which left him with red marks on his skin.
Mr Gasson said: “I instantly knew the type of person I was dealing with. You are not there to be assaulted but it looked like it was going down that route.
“I asked if he was threatening me and he said ‘damn right I am making threats’.
“I am not there to be assaulted but you try not to get to that stage. I do not want to be rolling around on the floor.”
Mr Gasson said Hughes had attempted to “jack up” his car after he had fitted a clamp. He then tried to fit another clamp and he grabbed hold of him.
Hughes was found guilty. He will be sentenced next week but was sentenced for 28 days in custody for contempt of court.
