A drink driver who broke a policeman's jaw later boasted he was "proud" of what he'd done.

Anthony James Cooper got behind the wheel after drinking five pints of cider and a shot of whiskey.

He wrote off his car in a crash in Penyffordd . Then, when his grandma arrived at the scene, he drove off in hers and wrote that off by crashing into the Millennium Clock Tower.

He was put in an ambulance but PC Ian Tapley feared he was going to become aggressive with the paramedics.

The policeman took hold of him and tried to calm him down but 19-year-old Cooper struck him several times, breaking his jaw with one of the blows.

Penyffordd Millennium clock tower, which Cooper crashed into
Penyffordd Millennium clock tower, which Cooper crashed into

When he was taken to Wrexham police station, he launched himself at Sergeant Roly Hicks and had to be restrained in his cell.

When he was breathalysed and found to be twice over the limit, he said he had "punched an officer and I am proud of that".

PC Tapley was left needing surgery under general anaesthetic and has a plate fitted into his jaw that will be there for the rest of his life. He was unable to eat solid food, had lost weight and his sense of smell.

He feared that might never return, and was unable to properly enjoy playing with his 17-month-old baby for fear he might get a slap to his painful jaw.

At Mold crown court today, Cooper was told by judge Niclas Parry that his actions had been "appalling", and that he needed locking up as a deterrent.

Wrote off two cars within minutes

The court heard Cooper had smashed his black Corsa into the back of a black Toyota being reversed out of a driveway at around 10pm on August 19.

The car span 180 degrees and was written off. He apologised to the couple, saying he had not seen their lights.

Cooper called his grandma, who smelled alcohol on his breath when she arrived. As they waited for police, he grew more agitated. A witness reported seeing him slumped in his gran's Citroen Picasso with his head lolling back.

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He then drove off in the car, before smashing into the Millennium Tower's stone plinth.

There was debris everywhere, and members of the public gathered round as Cooper was lying on the pavement. He then got up and ran back in the direction of the original crash, and attacked the policeman.

Judge Parry said attacks on police officers increasing at an alarming rate and a “ clear message must be sent out".

He added: “When police officers are injured carrying out their duties then sentences will be imposed to deter others.

“Anything other than an immediate custodial sentence cannot be entertained.”

Cooper admitted wounding, drink driving, criminal damage to a police radio and violent behaviour in a police station.

'He can't believe he behaved this way'

Defending barrister Sarah Badrawy said Cooper, of Eaton Close, Saltney, had written a letter which he wished to be handed to the officer, although he accepted that an apology would not rectify the damage that he had done.

He had been through a difficult time which triggered his out-of-character behaviour on August 19. He had no previous convictions.

His memory of the incident was rather limited but he accepted what he had done and was genuinely remorseful.

He had an extremely supportive family and his gran, his aunt and his father were in court.

“He struggles to understand what he did and cannot believe that he behaved in this way,” Miss Badrawy said.

Since the incident he had been to his doctor, had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was no longer self-medicating on alcohol.

He felt better, was having counselling and he hoped not to offend again, she explained, and suggested that the sentence could be suspended.

Judge Parry sentenced him to 20 months youth detention.

He was also banned from driving for 32 months.