Anger at ‘weak’ sentence for man who attacked officer with baton
Police officers have reacted with fury after a man who put a colleague in hospital by repeatedly striking him over the head with a police baton walked away from court with a suspended prison sentence.
Zoe Wakefield, chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said the weak sentence handed down for the assault made a “mockery” of promises to protect the protectors.
The injured officer sustained large lumps and cuts to his forehead and the back of his head, a cut to his left hand, and a lump and cut to his left shin during the incident.
Matthew Wagstaff admitted assaulting a Hampshire Constabulary officer with a police baton in January but at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (April 16) was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
Hampshire Constabulary said it was considering appealing the sentence.
Ms Wakefield said: “For the judge to give a suspended sentence in this case is completely unacceptable. This tells criminals that you can strike a police officer on the head, more than once, with a metal stick and not go to prison.
“It’s pure luck that the officer’s injuries are not more serious. We are supporting colleagues as best we can, but we now need the judiciary to support us and provide an appropriate punishment and appropriate deterrent for such awful crimes.”
Hampshire Constabulary officers had been making inquiries into drug offences in Lees Lane, Gosport on January 30 when they spotted Wagstaff and approached him.
The 31-year-ran run off, jumping over garden fences before officers caught up with him.
Wagstaff then grabbed a police baton from one of the officers before repeatedly striking another officer over the head with it.
He was arrested and charged after the incident.
Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court in March, Wagstaff, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault of an emergency worker, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Inspector Matt Wake said: “Assaults against our people will never be tolerated. It is not ‘simply part of the job’ and we will always take these extremely seriously.
“This was a violent attack on one of our officers, who needed treatment in hospital as a result. Fortunately he has recovered well and is back on duty, but the outcome could have been far more severe.”