A teenager who rugby tackled and then headbutted a police officer after downing a bottle of gin and crashing a car has avoided jail.

Corey Rowlands had drunk the spirit following a family dispute on Boxing Day last year.

Newport Magistrates’ Court was told how Rowlands, who was 17 at the time, crashed the car in Penybryn, Hengoed, and had left the scene.

He later went back and saw three police officers inspecting the crash.

Unable to explain his actions later, Rowlands charged at the officers and rugby tackled and headbutted one. The officer suffered cuts and bruises as a result of the attack.

Chair of the bench Martin Parfitt said Rowlands’ actions “defied logic” and asked the defendent what was going through his mind at the time.

The teenager replied: “I don’t know. I can’t remember sir. I am very remorseful.

“I was [feeling] a bit built up with problems back home.”

Defending, solicitor Peter Obradovic explained that Rowlands’ father had been “excluded” from the matrimonial home because he had been drinking over Christmas.

The son had wanted his family to spend time together and said drinking the gin had been a way of coping. The court was told he is not usually a drinker and that his actions were completely out of character.

Following an interview with the probation service, in which he expressed his regret and remorse over what happened, magistrates decided not to jail Rowlands, who has never previously been in trouble with the courts.

Addressing Rowlands, chair of the bench Mr Parfitt said: “The attack on the officer was unprovoked and sustained.

“You were heavily intoxicated at the time and you used your head as a weapon – against that, you are very young.

“You were 17-years-old, now 18, and you are of previous good character – that weighs in your favour.”

Rowlands admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker, failing to provide a breath test, and a public order offence.

He was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and told to pay £500 compensation to the injured police officer in addition to £202 court costs.

He was also banned from driving for 30 months, but this will be reduced by 33 weeks if he successfully completes a driver rehabilitation course.