A man who viciously attacked three Cleveland Police officers in Stockton has been sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison. Mark Fox, 35, from Billingham, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and was found guilty of two counts of wounding with intent following a trial.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Friday, 2nd June 2023, when police officers attended an address on Corfe Crescent, Billingham, after receiving concerns for a man’s welfare. Upon arrival, they encountered Fox, who was armed with a knife. Fox became aggressive and attacked the officers, inflicting significant injuries. Two officers sustained puncture wounds, while a third received slash wounds. All three officers were hospitalised and required stitches.
Sentencing and Reactions
Fox was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, 15th July. Following the sentencing, Superintendent John Wrintmore, the district commander for Stockton, condemned the attack and emphasised the daily risks police officers face.
“Police put their lives at risk every day by protecting members of the public, and attacks such as this one are both shocking and truly disgraceful,” Wrintmore stated. He highlighted the bravery and dedication of the officers, noting that no one should be attacked while performing their duties.
Wrintmore praised the officers’ response to the incident, which led to their nomination for the National Police Bravery Awards 2024. They were named regional winners for their bravery and courage at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 11th July.
Statistics on Police Assaults
The incident involving Fox is part of a broader troubling trend of assaults on police officers. Over the past year, Cleveland Police have reported 245 assaults on their officers, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. This reflects a worrying rise in such incidents nationwide. In 2023 alone, 79,091 officers were assaulted in the line of duty across the UK, a ten-year high.
Superintendent’s Statement
Superintendent Wrintmore underscored the importance of supporting police officers through the criminal justice system. “Fox’s actions were extremely dangerous and reckless. Today’s sentence sends out a strong message – our officers deserve the full support of the criminal justice system, and I hope this dissuades anyone from using violence towards emergency workers simply doing their job.”
This sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the risks faced by police officers and the severe consequences for those who perpetrate violence against them.
