AN unemployed Llandybie father-of-four has been ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work after admitting assaulting a police officer.

Mark Rhydian Langford, of the Caravan at Pantllyn, had been arrested for possession of cannabis on Pontaman High Street and was placed in handcuffs in the rear seat of a police patrol car when he kicked the driver by putting his foot through the space between the two front seats.

Ammanford magistrates heard how the officer had almost lost control of the vehicle during the January 21 attack.

The defence claimed that the handcuffs had caused jobless Langford severe pain due to the 34-year-old's osteo-arthritis.

Such was his discomfort that Langford lashed out, claimed the defence, accidentally striking the officer.

It was also claimed that Langford's condition meant that a sentence ordering unpaid work would be pointless.

Magistrates said that because Langford was claiming Income Support rather than incapacity benefit and that no medical certificate was produced they had no alternative but to order him to carry out 40 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and £120 towards court costs.