POLICE used a Taser on a man after he allegedly assaulted a member of the door staff at a Devizes pub and a police officer in a fracas on Saturday night.

Police said they were obliged to discharge the weapon and have appealed for witnesses to the assault outside the Silk Mercer, St John’s Street, at around 11.15pm.

Officers were called after the man was thrown out of the pub for aggressive behaviour.

He is then alleged to have assaulted a door supervisor and then one of the officers who arrived at the scene as he tried to resist arrest. He later is said to have damaged a police vehicle.

PC Mandy Goodwin, from the Local Crime Investigation Team, said: “The pub was very busy and there were lots of people outside watching the incident. There are likely to be many people who saw this incident and I appeal to them to come forward.”

The man is described as white, 5ft 8in and of muscular build.

He had short thick hair, swept to the side, covering his forehead and eyes. He had facial stubble and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

He wore jeans, a dark coloured cardigan with a bright blue V- neck T-shirt underneath. He was wearing dark brown/burgundy footwear with white trim.

Insp Matt Armstrong, commander of the police division covering Devizes, said: “Thankfully, this kind of incident is rare in Devizes.

“The man had to be Tasered as he was resisting arrest and was a danger to the public.

“The police officer sustained only a slight injury to his leg.”

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Goodwin on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

n A 27-year-old man from Devizes was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty, criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.