A long-serving police sergeant who was one of the first on the scene of the King’s Cross terrorist attack in 2005 assaulted a police officer who was called to a domestic incident at his home.

Magistrates in Llandudno heard that Philip John Hughes, who has been an officer in the Metropolitan Police for 21 years was now struggling to overcome his addiction to alcohol.

When PC Sian Thompson arrived at the house in Old Colwyn, on November 1, Hughes, aged 46, became increasingly aggressive and threw a can of beer at her, hitting her in the chest and soaking her body armour.

Prosecutor Gareth Parry said: “She knew he was a serving officer and felt his conduct was shocking considering the position he held.”

Four days after the incident magistrates made a domestic violence protection order against him despite his wife having not supported the application.

Mr Parry told the court that after being arrested for assaulting the officer Hughes kept banging his head against the side of the police vehicle taking him to St Asaph.

Defence solicitor Chris Fallows said that Hughes, who admitted assault, was a special constable in North Wales for four years before joining the Met and had suffered “a number of negative consequences in his career” including the 7/7 bombings.

In 2013 he was subject of a complaint by a colleague which resulted in a lengthy employment tribunal which lasted five years but Hughes was found to be unfit to give evidence.

Mr Fallows presented several references and commendations to the court: “He is a competent, efficient and diligent manager of a neighbourhood policing team working in one of the most challenging environments.”

He said that Hughes, who has been commuting from North Wales to London, turned to alcohol “as a coping mechanism” and had been seeking help from various agencies.

“Sadly this incident occurred during a period of abstinence because there was no cover in place to manage his addiction,” he said.

“He accepts that assaults on police officers should be frowned upon and that they have a right to expect not to be assaulted.”

The Bench imposed a six-month conditional discharge. Williams was ordered to pay costs of £85, a surcharge of £20 and to pay PC Thompson £20 for cleaning her uniform.