MAGISTRATES have found a 21-year-old man guilty of using threatening behaviour towards a police officer who was trying to protect the scene of a fatal road accident on Boxing Night last year.

Jac Powell, 21, was also found guilty of obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty following a trial at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Pensioner Graham Maloney, 75, died of multiple head injuries, after he was struck by a car as he tried to free his vehicle which had become stuck in heavy snow in Baldwin Lane, Clayton.

The court heard that Powell and his girlfriend, Laura Hill, had been walking up Baldwin Lane trying to get home to Western Place, Clayton Heights, following a family party, where they had both been drinking.

Prosecutor Niall Carlin said Powell had entered into an argument with Police Constable Peter Sutcliffe, who had cordoned off the road due to the accident, after he refused access to a route back to his house.

Powell was said to be "in-drink", becoming "argumentative and abusive" towards PC Sutcliffe when he refused to let him through the cordon.

He was said to have asked PC Sutcliffe: "Why can't we go home, it's not our fault the accident has happened."

After being arrested the court was told Powell butted the officer, who hit back with his forearm in "self-defence", subsequently needing nine stitches in a wound to his arm.

PC Sutcliffe was not in court to give evidence, but his partner, Police Constable Joynal Hannan, said Powell had "glazed eyes" and was "very aggressive and wound up".

He said Powell had taken a step back and butted PC Sutcliffe, adding he feared he might also be assaulted.

"We were doing our best to do a very difficult job, and everything was against us," said PC Hannan.

"All of a sudden, he just lost it."

Steven Hodgson, a 47 year-old farmer, said he witnessed "pushing and shoving" between Powell and PC Sutcliffe, with Powell swearing at the officer following his arrest.

Giving his evidence, Powell accused PC Sutcliffe of swearing and using obscenities at him first, saying he asked for his badge number as he felt the officer was not performing his "duty of care".

He also claimed PC Sutcliffe had not initially informed him the accident had been fatal, stating: "If I had known the severity of it, I would have walked away."

He denied butting the officer, saying he had slipped on the snow while trying to get into the police van, adding he had suffered damage to two front teeth after PC Sutcliffe had struck him with the butt of his police baton.

Sentencing him, chairman of the bench David Pearson said: "The officer was there to deal with a very sensitive situation, and your demeanour, language, and persistence would clearly have caused distress."

Mr Pearson added that the court could not be sure beyond reasonable doubt that Powell had butted the officer.

Powell was fined £165, and ordered to pay £310 costs and a £20 surcharge.