Traffic officer punched unconscious in Coventry

[dutchman]

A traffic officer was punched unconscious by a motorist he stopped



The 35-year-old driver hit the officer several times in the face on Treforest Road in Stoke, Coventry during the early hours, police said.

The officer was knocked out for "a short amount of time" but got to his feet, chased and arrested the man, who had abandoned his car and fled.

The officer was treated by paramedics for facial injuries and was taken to hospital but later discharged.

"Despite being punched in the face and losing consciousness for a short amount of time, the officer still managed to chase and detain the suspect," police said.

The attacker was later found to be wanted by Derbyshire Police in connection with an armed robbery.

He remains in police custody and West Midlands Police said he will be spoken to in due course.

[dutchman]

Police hit out at 'disgraceful' sentence of thug who knocked officer unconscious

Police have hit out at the sentence handed to a thug who knocked an officer unconscious in Coventry.

Ian Sneath was handed a six-week curfew and ordered to pay a paltry £100 compensation despite punching the officer several times in the face and knocking him out.

The meagre sentence was given at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and has been met by disbelief by a number of police officers across the region.

Sneath was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty.

It turned out he was also wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Derbyshire.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police told the Telegraph that Sneath had been officially arrested by the force as they investigated the robbery, and further arrested on suspicion of theft of car registration plates and making off without paying for fuel.

He has been released under investigation with regards to all the incidents.

[dutchman]

Top cops vow to look in to attack on Coventry police officer - and sentence given to thug

Kenny Bell, the assistant chief constable of West Midlands Police, has now spoken out about the incident and the subsequent sentence.

He said: “It’s absolutely vital that the criminal justice system treat attacks on officers with the seriousness that they deserve.

“Protecting officers protects the rule of law.

“We are looking at the full facts of this case and the officer involved has been overwhelmed with the support that has been shown by members of the public.”

ACC Bell's words were echoed by the new Commander for Coventry Police who described the attack as “totally unacceptable”.

Mike O'Hara said: "Our officers and staff are out on duty 24 hours a day to prevent crime, protect the public and help those in need.

“When danger presents itself and others run away, our officers bravely run towards the threat.

“When officers and staff are injured and deliberately attacked this is totally unacceptable and we need to support our officers.

“I am aware that the force has been working with the CPS on exactly this issue and I will be working with our executive team to have this matter reviewed as a matter of urgency.

“Any attack on an officer will not be tolerated.”

[rebbonk]

“Any attack on an officer will not be tolerated.”

I totally agree with this.

However, the law is supposed to be upheld without fear or favour. Unless there is a special offence of of attacking a police officer (I don't know if there is, or what the perpetrator was actually charged with) then I fear this 'punishment' will stand; as once again the judiciary fail in their duty to protect.