A scaffolder has been jailed for one year following an attack on four police officers in Kent which left one unconscious.
The officers were responding to reports of a disturbance in the Margate area in the early hours of 31 May this year, but on arrival, things took an immediate turn for the worse. A woman was heard crying inside a house, but the police were refused entry by Paul Ioannou.
Officers were forced to push their way past the 36-year-old in order to ensure the safety of the crying woman, but a struggle ensued and he threw a knuckleduster, punched, bit and kicked out at the officers.
During the incident Loannou told the officer he bit that he had hepatitis C and that he would kill them when he finds them out of uniform.
One officer was knocked unconscious during the attack, leaving their colleague fearing that they had died.
Maidstone Crown Court heard that Ioannou suffered ‘very serious injuries’ in a road traffic collision since the incident.
He admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of making threats to kill. On Wednesday 22 July and jailed for a total of one year.
Chief Inspector Ed Ruffle, Thanet District Commander, said:
‘Ioannou was extremely violent towards our officers and the injuries they suffered could have been a lot worse.
‘All officers at Kent Police are required to attend unpredictable, challenging and volatile situations, but this doesn’t mean they should accept being abused or assaulted.
‘Attacks on our officers are simply unacceptable and those found responsible can expect to be charged with an offence that can carry a serious penalty.’
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