Neighbours and visitors to the Morfa Bychan Holiday Park near Aberystwyth were left shaken after a man under the influence of alcohol created a violent disturbance in August last year, a court heard. The man, identified in court as Michael Dainty, was said to have threatened to fight other holidaymakers, thrown chairs around his caravan and then assaulted police officers when they attended the scene.
Police called after complaints about rowdy behaviour
Prosecutor Sarah John told Swansea Crown Court that officers were summoned to the site at about 10.15pm on 23 August 2025 after complaints from holidaymakers about Dainty’s conduct. Around 30 people, including children, were reported to have been present and witnessed at least some of the disturbance.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10.15pm, 23 Aug 2025 | Police called to Morfa Bychan Holiday Park following complaints about Dainty |
| Officers attend | Dainty initially dismissive and resists officers entering caravan |
| During arrest | Physical scuffle; PC Barnsley pushed; Sergeant Hawksworth struck and fell; PC Rees punched |
| After arrest | Dainty led to police vehicle, tripped an officer and continued to threaten staff |
According to the prosecution, officers including PC Barnsley and Sergeant Hawksworth entered Dainty’s caravan after he initially resisted attempts to make contact. Dainty was said to be compliant at first but then “reacted with violence” when told he would be arrested.
The court heard that Dainty pushed PC Barnsley and that Sergeant Hawksworth was struck to the head, then ended up on a sofa with Dainty on top of him. At that point PC Rees entered and was reportedly punched on the left side of the face, causing his mouth to bleed.
Officers eventually secured Dainty in handcuffs and escorted him to a police vehicle. While moving him to the vehicle the prosecutor said Dainty tripped another officer, PC Guichard, and fell on top of him. Throughout the incident, members of the public watched from nearby caravans.
“He threatened the officers with violence, saying he would ‘take them all on’ and ‘put them on their a***’,”
The barrage of threats and the physical assaults were relayed to the court by the prosecutor. The account underlines the pressure experienced by officers attending what began as a noise and anti-social behaviour complaint.
Local impact and policing response
While the sentencing hearing was held at Swansea Crown Court, the events are a reminder to Aberystwyth residents and seasonal visitors of the risks that can arise at popular holiday sites. Morfa Bychan is well known locally as a family-oriented park and incidents witnessed by children can be particularly alarming for neighbouring caravans and holidaymakers seeking a quiet break.
- Incident date: 23 August 2025
- Location: Morfa Bychan Holiday Park, near Aberystwyth
- Witnesses: About 30 people, including children
No additional details were provided in court about injuries to the officers or any wider measures to reassure residents at the park. The case, as presented by the Crown, focused on the sequence of events leading to Dainty’s arrest and the assaults on officers present that night.
For a close-knit town like Aberystwyth, where many households and businesses depend on a steady flow of visitors, incidents of violence at holiday parks are taken seriously by local policing and community leaders. The hearing underlines the challenge for officers who must balance responding to complaints promptly with managing potentially volatile situations in front of families.
Local residents wishing to raise concerns about safety at tourist sites are advised to contact Dyfed‑Powys Police or their local community policing team.
