“On arrival, he looked me straight in the eyes and said ‘I am going to rape you”

The policewoman

“On arrival, he looked me straight in the eyes and said ‘I am going to rape you.

“I felt vulnerable around him after he assaulted my colleague.”

She added: “As a police officer, I have experienced abuse and insults on a number of occasions, but nothing like this.

“If I was called out for another job involving Mark Jennings, I wouldn’t feel safe.

“He has completely knocked my confidence. As a professional athlete, he is a role model for children and I don’t think that somebody who acts like he did should be in a such a position.”

Jennings, who lives in Hale, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester, with his partner and baby daughter later blamed his behaviour on a previous history of consuming drink and drugs.

Three days after the incident on February 2, Sale Sharks announced Jennings was taking a “sabbatical” from professional rugby for the “foreseeable future”.

The club cited a series of injuries he had suffered during his eight years at Sale – but made no mention of his arrest.

At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, Jennings admitted assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening behaviour.

He was ordered to complete 80 hours’ unpaid work, and pay the WPC £300 compensation and pay the male officer £50.

Prosecuting, Nick Smart said: “These offences go back to February 2. Reports came in regarding an ongoing domestic dispute between the defendant and his partner.

“Police officers arrived at 10.27pm and one of the officers went to speak to the complainant while the others went to speak to the defendant in a separate room. During this time, he made comments to the officers about fighting them.

“He said ‘do you know who I am, c**ts?’ and then he told them to ‘f**k off and get out’.”

In mitigation, defence lawyer Mark Haslam said: “This is a very sad case. My client has a history of issues involving alcohol and drugs. His position is, unequivocally, that he had been drinking, but he had not been taking drugs on that particular night.

“He accepts that this behaviour was, ultimately, unacceptable. He behaved in a way that he would never behave in other circumstances.

“He is embarrassed and remorseful and he apologises unreservedly to those who were the recipients of his behaviour. He understands the seriousness of this.

“He has the support of his fellow rugby players and he has the support of his partner and his daughter.

“She says, and I quote: ‘I trust him to look after myself and our daughter, so we will keep working together’.”

Magistrates Chair, Paul King, said: “The words you used and way you acted was not in any way acceptable. But we are mindful to go along with the probation report.”

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