Man who attacked two police officers is jailed

Man who attacked two police officers is jailed

A man has been jailed for 16 months for attacking two police officers in what was described by their sergeant as one of the worst assaults on officers he had seen.

Xander Butler, 23, of Willoughby Road, Ipswich, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 1 October after pleading guilty to intentional strangulation, assault by beating of an emergency worker and criminal damage.

A further count of both intentional strangulation and of assault by beating of an emergency worker were left on file after Butler pleaded not guilty to these offences.

The assault, which left the two victims fearing for their lives, took place after two female officers attended a hotel in Capel St Mary on 29 July to reports a man had smashed a window and caused significant damage inside his hotel room.

After knocking on his door, Butler immediately rushed at one of the officers, throwing her into a wall and placing an arm around her neck.

While trying to intervene and support her colleague, Butler grabbed the other officer from behind, wrapping an arm around her neck, restricting her breathing, before punching her to the face. The officer told investigators that she believed she had been struck between four and five times.

The first officer to be assaulted, who was now free of Butler, subsequently drew her taser, before discharging this after Butler failed to comply with instructions. Butler was then detained and arrested.

As a result of the attack, one officer suffered facial swelling, bruising, jaw pain and a head injury, requiring hospital assessment and X-rays. The other officer sustained a cut to her arm and general soreness. Both officers described feeling frightened and emotionally distressed following the incident.

In her victim impact statement for the court, one of the officers wrote: “During the incident I was shoved against a wall with such force that it cut my arm. I was strangled and thrown to the floor. Not only was I being assaulted myself, but I was forced to watch as my colleague was also assaulted, leaving me feeling completely helpless.

“I do not think I will ever be able to fully describe how I felt in that moment. I was terrified. I genuinely feared for my life. As the attack unfolded, my thoughts immediately turned to my family and loved ones. I thought about the possibility that I might never see them again and the devastating impact that would have on those I could have left behind. No one should go to work believing there is a chance they may not come home at the end of their shift.

“That evening I barely slept. When I did manage to sleep, I experienced vivid and violent nightmares.

“Since the incident the nightmares have continued. I frequently wake in the middle of the night distressed and frightened after reliving violent events in my sleep. I now live with a level of fear and anxiety that did not exist before. This has affected me at work, where I often find myself worrying that any incident I attend could result in another violent attack.”

Her colleague wrote: “I can still see it happening. One moment I was doing my job, and the next he had his arm around my neck, punching me repeatedly in the face.

“It happened so quickly there was no time to process it. I felt completely exposed and vulnerable, just trying to protect myself and stop it from getting worse. In that moment, I genuinely believed he was not going to stop. I remember thinking that if me and my colleague could not find a way to stop him, he could seriously hurt or even kill one of us.

“That fear, and not knowing how far it was going to go, has stayed with me. One of the things I struggle with most is that I can still hear myself screaming. I can hear the fear and desperation in my own voice as I shouted at him to get off and stop. I never thought I would hear myself like that. It takes me straight back to how frightened and vulnerable I felt in that moment.”

PC Lauren Birch who led the investigation into the assault, said: "This was a serious assault on two officers who were carrying out their duties. Regardless of a person's occupation, everyone has the right to go to work without being subjected to violence.

"The offending in this case involved strangulation and assault and was both serious and completely unacceptable.

"I welcome the sentence imposed by the court, which reflects the gravity of the offences and the impact they had on the victims.

"Officers are accountable for the actions they take and, equally, those who commit offences against them must be held accountable for their behaviour. Suffolk Constabulary will continue to investigate offences of violence thoroughly and seek justice for victims through the courts."

Sergeant Alasdair Nicol, South West Response team

“This was one of the worst assaults on police officers I have seen. It is important to remember police officers are normal people doing the abnormal. This incident highlights the incredible work that officers do on a daily basis.

“Butler's abhorrent actions against two of my colleagues has again highlighted the unacceptable levels of violence that officers around the country are facing on a daily basis. 

“The officers’ actions have no doubt prevented Butler from causing significant harm to others. However, in doing so have had to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.

“Let me be clear. If you actively choose to attack police constables, you can expect a robust response as demonstrated in this matter. We will pursue offenders and make use of every appropriate power available to ensure they are brought to justice.”

Superintendent Tom Pearse, South County Policing Commander

“This conviction is a testament to the professionalism and courage shown by the two officers involved. Faced with extreme violence, they acted decisively to intercept a dangerous individual and, in doing so, undoubtedly prevented an innocent member of the public from being harmed.

“I am particularly proud of the bravery and resilience shown by these young women. Despite suffering injuries in the course of their duty, they returned to serving the communities of Suffolk a matter of hours later. Their dedication, courage and commitment to protecting others, even in the face of significant personal risk, exemplify the very best of policing, and as a Suffolk resident I feel fortunate to have both of them keeping our communities safe.”

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Alice Scott

“We have zero tolerance for assaults on our officers. They come to work, regularly working in very challenging situations to help and protect people.

“Those officers need to go home to their own families at the end of the shift. They do not deserve to be assaulted or attacked.

“We are proud of our courageous officers who are trained to cope with these situations and not back down from confrontation when they are there to protect the public and safeguard victims.”

Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk

“Butler’s loutish behaviour has been utterly disgraceful.

“There is no excuse for attacks on our police officers who are doing their job to maintain law and order and keep everyone safe.

“If you assault an emergency service worker, you can expect to face the full force of the law.”

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