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This is the moment a policewoman shouts 'drop the microwave now' before Tasering a man threatening to throw an oven at her.

The video shows South Wales Police officers in a standoff with Nathan Caine, 25, after responding to reports of an assault on February 4.

In the clip, an officer is seen pointing her Taser at the criminal as he backs away from her with the oven in his hands.

After repeated warnings, the screaming man starts to charge at police, while swinging the microwave backwards.

Just as he is about to throw the device at the officers, the constable fires her Taser, bringing the man crashing face-first down to the ground.

(Image: South Wales Police)

As he writhes around on the floor, the police order him to put his hands behind his back, before arresting him.

Caine has since been sentenced to four months in prison.

It comes after the Home Office awarded more than £273,000 to South Wales Police to fund 331 Tasers.

Chief Constable Matt Jukes said:“Equipping officers to be able to protect themselves, their colleagues and, importantly, the public, is a priority.

(Image: South Wales Police) (Image: South Wales Police)

"This increase is not in response to a specific threat, but the nature of policing means officers frequently put themselves in harm’s way.

“Additional availability of Taser is one part of our strategy to address the safety of officers and the public.

"Ensuring officers have appropriate protection is recognition of their vital role in standing between the public and harm, and their daily commitment to doing exactly that.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael, who has reviewed and endorsed the planned increase in the number of Taser-trained officers in South Wales, said the use of the weapons is proporitionate.

He said: “In many cases, the presence of a Taser alone is enough to calm an offender or an individual who is in crisis, and in the vast majority of incidents the Taser is not discharged."

Mr Michael added that they frequently prevent harm to the police, those being restrained and members of the public.