Policeman who bit rival pool player ordered to pay his victim £500 

An off-duty police officer called a rival pool player a ‘cocky little git’ before biting his nose for 15 seconds in a drunken pub bust-up.

PC James Morgans, 47, was at the Old Coach House pub in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire when he sunk his teeth into a younger pool player in a ‘moment of madness’.

His victim, 22-year-old Scott McDonald, had been boasting that he could beat anyone in the pub – and Morgans called him a ‘cocky little git’ before biting him for 15 seconds. 

PC James Morgans, 47, was at the Old Coach House pub in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire when he sunk his teeth into a younger player’s nose at 1.30am

The disgraced officer, from Goodwick in Pembrokeshire, grabbed hold of Mr McDonald and left him bleeding from 2cm wounds to each side of his nose.

Both men played competitive pool for rival teams – and Morgans was wound up by the younger man’s ‘boasting and banter’ after his semi-final tournament win.

Nik Stroble, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court the victim began engaging in ‘banter’ about pool.

He said: ‘Morgans eventually grabbed the man, pulled him towards him, and then bit him on the nose, only letting go when he was pulled off by people in the bar.’ 

‘You described Mr McDonald as a cocky little git,’ said Judge Geraint Walters.

 ‘You were irritated by his banter and in the heat of the moment you let your guard down.’

Judge Walters said he was sure that Morgans had drunk more that night than he could remember. 

CCTV evidence from the pub showed the bite lasted around 15 seconds before Morgans was then pulled away by one of the victim’s friends.

He was then seen in the pub’s toilets with his head in his hands.  

Morgans was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the young pool player and will likely lose his job after a police disciplinary hearing. 

In an impact statement read to court, Mr McDonald said it left him ‘wary of going out at night and distrustful of the police’.

The shamed officer was as ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the young pool player and will likely lose his job after a police disciplinary hearing. (Pictured, the Old Coach House in Fishguard)

The shamed officer was as ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the young pool player and will likely lose his job after a police disciplinary hearing. (Pictured, the Old Coach House in Fishguard)

Married father-of-one Morgans claimed to have acted in self-defence – but the judge told him his conviction was a ‘a significant fall from grace’.

Morgans’ barrister, Paul Hobson, said it was a foregone conclusion that Morgans would lose his career as a police officer.

Judge Walters said he agreed it was the overwhelmingly likely outcome.

He described Morgans as a dedicated police officer who had contributed much to the community of Fishguard before his ‘moment of madness’ in the pub.

But he said on the night in question, after consuming a large quantity of alcohol, the defendant had ‘lost normal self-control and discipline’ and ‘risen to the banter’ of the man at the bar.

Morgans was convicted by a jury after a five-day trial of assaulting Mr McDonald causing him actual bodily harm on April 17 last year.

He was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years, and must complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

Dyfed-Powys Police is carrying out misconduct process against the PC with more than 20 years of experience.

Deputy Chief Constable Darren Davies said: ‘Police expects the highest standard of professional behaviour from our officers and staff and the appropriate action will be taken to maintain these standards.

‘We will always deal robustly with individuals whose behaviour on or off duty brings discredit to Dyfed-Powys Police and the Police Service.’  



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