12 years for cop knifeman
A THUG who stabbed a police officer in a brutal murder bid has been jailed for 12 years.
Paul Patterson was given an “exemplary sentence” for the unprovoked attack on “brave” PC Kevin Taylor.
He was struck in April 2015 after stepping into a row Patterson was having with his neighbour.
The officer was left with a serious leg wound and one of the PC’s colleagues had to drag the crazed 40-year-old to the ground before he was finally handcuffed.
Patterson admitted attempted murder.
A THUG who stabbed a police officer in a brutal murder bid has been jailed for 12 years.
Judge Lady Rae told Paul Patterson she was hitting him with an “exemplary sentence” for the unprovoked attack on “brave” PC Kevin Taylor.
PC Taylor was struck in April 2015 after stepping into a row Patterson was having with his neighbour Wilson Martin in Govan, Glasgow.
The officer was left with a serious leg wound after the knifeman yelled at him: “I’ll stick this f****** in you.”
One of the PC’s colleagues had to drag the crazed 40-year-old to the ground before he was finally handcuffed.
Witnesses meantime stood recording the chaotic scenes on their mobile phones – as the officer lay bleeding and injured.
Patterson yesterday admitted to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lady Rae said he could “easily have killed” PC Taylor that day.
The judge told him: “Police officers fulfil a very important function in protecting the public from harm.
“In many ways, it is a dangerous occupation and they undertake their duties with bravery as did this officer. In my view, all those working for the emergency services are entitled to expect protection from the courts.”
The judge said the jail-term would have been 14 years, but for the guilty plea. The court heard how Patterson’s 51-year-old neighbour Martin had “challenged” him to a fight in the street around 1pm on April 26, 2015.
Police were called to the city’s Hutton Drive after Patterson was then spotted wielding a metal pole.
PC Taylor along with PC John Farren soon arrived as the rowing neighbours stood on either side of the street. CCTV footage of the incident was yesterday played in court. PC Taylor demanded Patterson drop the pole – but he ignored him and continued storming towards Martin.
Prosecutor Bruce Erroch said the constable then grabbed the thug before realising he also had a knife in his hand. Patterson thrust the blade at the officer who tried to get him in a “bearhug”. As a struggle ensued, Patterson screamed: “I’ll stick this f****** in you”.
PC Taylor’s colleague shouted for urgent back-up before discharging CS spray to stop the attacker.
Althouth people were nearby, no-one came to PC Taylor’s aid. The court heard a number of people appeared to be taking pictures of the events on their mobile phones.
On hearing this, Lady Rae later commented she found that “disgraceful and disgusting”.
The injured officer has been left scarred for life.
Martin, also of Govan, was not accused of attacking the officer, but had faced other charges including behaving in a threatening manner.
However, he walked free after prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas.