A 29-year-old man will spend the next ten years behind bars after he pointed a taser at officers as he tried to flee from them.
The police spotted Layton Jeffers as he drove on London Road, St Albans, last year.
As officers approached Jeffers, he ran away from them. As the officers gave chase, Jeffers stopped, spun around and pointed a taser at the officers.
One of the police officers who was chasing Jeffers stopped and shielded herself, fearing that Jeffers would strike her.
At this point, Jeffers threw the taser on the floor before running off again. He tried to hide in a pub, and as the officers ran into the pub after him, he threw pint glasses at them before headbutting one of the officers and punching another.
Jeffers, previously of Brickly Road, Luton, was taken for a mental health assessment, where he continued to be aggressive and threatening towards officers.
He later hit another police officer, striking him in the face, and spat at two more officers – one needing hospital treatment after being hit in the eye.
Officers initially approached Jeffers because he was wanted in connection with a blackmail investigation.
In June and July last year he contacted a person known to him through an associate three times using social media. Each time he demanded £200, or he would harm the victim or his home. After the third time, the victim reported the offences to the police.
Jeffers was remanded following his arrest before pleading guilty to the offences.
On 10th July, he was jailed for nine years and nine months for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He also received custodial sentences of two years for the blackmail offences. These are to be served concurrently with the Taser-related offence.
Jeffers was also convicted of two racially and religiously aggravated public order offences and five assaults on the officers who dealt with him during his arrest and detention.
The sentences for these matters have either been served while Jeffers was on remand or are being served concurrently to the Taser and blackmail sentences.
Detective Constable Mark Chipchase, from the St Albans Local Crime Unit, said:
“Jeffers’ volatile behaviour put members of the public and police in serious danger.
“He used violence, threats and – most seriously of all – a Taser in his attempts to avoid arrest.
“This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire and Jeffers’ long sentence rightly reflects the gravity of his actions.”
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I am in awe of our paramedics, they have been wonderful with me a few years ago when I was very ill and was in and out of hospital many times. I feel they are not recognised enough for the work they do.i do not have the funds to support them just now but I will when I can. I’m appalled every time our wonderful NHS and police are attacked, and the scum who do this should automatically be given a long sentence.