KNIFE ATTACK CAUGHT ON PC’S BODYCAM
AJUDGE has praised the “calmness and professionalism” of police offers who tackled a drug-fuelled and psychotic man armed with kitchen knives.
An agitated Tony Buttigieg lunged at the officers with the weapons, and tried to stab one of Pcs in the chest – only the officer’s body armour saved him. He was then wrestled to the floor and disarmed.
Jailing him, a judge told 36-year-old Buttigieg the officer had been doing his job of protecting the public.
Swansea Crown Court heard that police had been called to the block of flats in Caerleon where Buttigieg lived in the early hours of October 2 last year by neighbours who were concerned about his behaviour – he was described as being in a “frantic” state in the communal areas of the block, shouting and banging on doors and talking about people coming to get him and a £1.5m bounty on his head.
Michael Jones QC, for the prosecution, said when officers arrived they found an “agitated” Buttigieg “pacing around” behind a glass door in the hallway on the top floor of the building, armed with two kitchen knives.
Shouting through the door the Pcs made repeated attempts to try to calm Buttigieg, and get him to put the weapons down – but the defendant would not be reasoned with.
The court heard that Buttigieg told the officers he did not believe they were real policemen, and asked them to take off their body armour. He then made a number of threats to stab the officers, and to stab himself in the heart.
At that point the decision was taken to use a Taser on him – the glass door was opened enough to allow the weapon to be fired, but the powerful shock from the stun-gun did not take Buttigieg down.
Instead, he forced his way through the ajar door, and lunged at Pc Rhydian Jones with a knife in each hand, stabbing at his chest.
The court heard the officer thought there had been “at least three” impacts from the blades on his stab vest.
The prosecutor said thanks to the size and height of Pc Jones, he was able overpower the knifeman and take him to the ground. A brief struggle then ensued before Buttigieg was disarmed.
Buttigieg, of Flavius Close, Caerleon, had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
In a victim impact statement from Pc Jones, he said he had been an officer with Gwent Police for a decade during which he had taken part in a wide range of operations including public order situations in London and Belfast – but nothing had prepared him for what he encountered in the Caerleon flat in the early hours of October 2.
The officer said he genuinely feared for his life when Buttigieg lunged at him with the knives.
He added that he thought about the attack every day but that he had joined the police to protect the public, and would continue to do so.
David Leathley, for Buttigieg, said his client had experienced a “very unfortunate childhood”.
He had, however, turned his life around and got a managerial with a well-known firm of estate agents before his life began to spiral out of control through alcohol and cocaine.
The barrister said that on the night in question the defendant was suffering from a “mental incapacity of some sort” but now, “lucid and cured”, was very sorry for what he had done.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told Buttigieg he had armed himself with two “fearsome kitchen knives” from his flat, and used them to attack police – but that at the time he was clearly suffering from a “temporary psychotic episode” fuelled by drink and drugs.
The judge sentenced Buttigieg to four years in prison, half of which he will serve in custody.
Judge Thomas also praised the “calmness and professionalism” of the officers involved.
Pc Rhydian Jones and his colleagues Pc Gareth Marsh and Pc Ashley Cotton subsequently received commendations for bravery from the chief constable of Gwent Police.