A Sussex Police officer has been left with severe injuries, including a broken eye socket and broken nose, after being assaulted by a man while attempting to stop a fight in Brighton. The attacker approached Sgt Alec Barrett from behind and delivered a running punch to his face, before punching him several more times while he was on the ground. Sgt Barrett was taken to the hospital, where he was found to have concussion, a broken eye socket, a broken nose, and damage to his cheek.
Despite the severity of the attack, the perpetrator, Jonathan Beauchamp, was given a suspended sentence of one year and a five-month curfew. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 in compensation. The sentence has been criticized by the Sussex Police Federation, which has called for stronger deterrence against violent crime.
