A MAN who became aggressive and threatening towards police officers when they went to talk to him about a Leominster rifle club dispute has been given a suspended sentence.

Clive Fletcher, 57, of Marcle Orchard, Brimfield, Ludlow was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Hereford Crown Court last Friday, following an earlier guilty plea to affray.

The court heard a complaint was made to police by two members of the Leominster Rifle and Pistol Club about Fletcher, who they said had been threatening and abusive.

Fletcher had been a member of the club for 22 years and treasurer for ten years and had become agitated after the club’s committee decided not to go ahead with a funding application, which he had spent a lot of time on.

Peter Arnold, prosecuting, said following the complaint, two officers- David Hamilton and Kirsty O’Brien- went to Fletcher’s home on July 27, 2013, where they found him in his workshop.

The officers could see there was a rifle stock in a vice and a complete rifle on the back wall bench.

The officers asked if they could talk to him and the court heard Fletcher immediately became aggressive and stood 12 inches from the face of PC O'Brien.

PC Hamilton pushed Fletcher away, who started swearing at him.

He continued to be aggressive and when the officers got out their CS spray and baton, Fletcher said he would kill them if they used the spray or hit him.

He was sprayed with the CS gas and PC Hamilton hit Fletcher on his back with his baton. A back-up police officer arrived and took him to the ground and arrested him.

The court heard Fletcher had a conviction from 1982, where he was given a three month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months for two offences of ABH against police officers who stopped him while driving.

Simon Ward, defending, said about the incident in July 2013 that the police were heavy handed and the defendant over-reacted to a degree where he broke the law.

Fletcher was immediately remanded in custody for six weeks, which is equivalent to a three month custodial sentence.

He had strong character references who said he was helpful, calm, honourable and honest, including one from a retired police officer who said the incident was completely out of character.

Fletcher was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and to pay a £100 surcharge. Two charges of making threats to kill will lie on file.

The CPS applied for his firearms licence to be taken off him, but this was refused by the judge.