A brazen thug who violently assaulted a West Midlands Police officer has been jailed for nine years.
During the assault, Calvert Batchelor dragged the officer to a brook and held him under the water.
Batchelor was pulled over by officers as part of a traffic operation in Walsall on 17th July last year. Officers spotted that his VW Golf was missing a number plate.
Batchelor ran from his vehicle that had come to a stop at the Bescott Retail centre car-park moments before officers found a loaded handgun in the driver’s side door pocket.
Batchelor, from Alma Street in Newtown, ran down a brook and into a closed tunnel with PC Paul Newman in pursuit.
After he realised that he had reached a dead-end, Batchelor turned and confronted PC Newman.
The 37-year-old thug lunged at the brave police officers, gouging at his eyes and grabbing the inside of his mouth with such forces that he punctured a hole under the officer’s tongue.
During the struggle, PC Newman and Batchelor fell into a brook at which point Batchelor forced PC Newman’s head under the water.
The traffic officer − who has worked with West Midlands Police for 20 years − later told how he feared for his life.
PC Newman, assisted by another colleague, eventually managed to detain Batchelor on the banks of the brook.
Ballistics experts examined the gun and discovered it was a Glock-style blank-firing pistol which had been illegally modified to fire live rounds.
Batchelor admitted possessing an illegal firearm and ammunition, plus wounding, and at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday (28th January).
He was jailed for nine years and four months.
PC Newman is continuing his recovery from the attack and has not returned to policing since.
Chief Inspector Rachel Joyce from the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG), said:
“This was a grotesque, violent attack on a brave police officer.
“PC Newman suffered nasty facial injuries and is still managing the long term psychological impact of being involved in such a traumatic incident.
“Attacks like this are totally unacceptable, and we will always push for the toughest possible penalty against anyone who abuses our staff.
“I’m glad the courts have recognised the severity of this incident and handed Batchelor a long jail term.
“We all wish Paul the very best in his continued recovery and hope to welcome him back to the police family when he is ready.”
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It would have been cheaper to give the savage one of his bullets in the back of his head.
“He was jailed for nine years and four months”, less time than legal pistol shooters were threatened with if they failed to submit to confiscation of their legally held private property… Probably out in under 5 years too.
Brave Officers. Let down by the justice system YET AGAIN!!!!.
Attemptive murder, GBH etc….. out in 4 years! Wouldn’t happen in some other countries.
LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIMES! Should have got 20 years minimum with NO PAROLE !
WELL DONE OFFICERS.