Man detained for stabbing officer

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Man detained for stabbing officer

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/7069291.stm

A man who stabbed a police community support officer (PCSO) in the face will serve his sentence in hospital. Albert Williams, 64, attacked Gary Etchells as he went to help evict him from his flat in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, in December last year.
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Williams was ordered to be detained under the Mental Health Act for wounding.
Mr Etchells, of Glossop, Derbyshire, was stabbed with a carving knife.
Williams, described in court as an eccentric loner, threw a pan of boiling water at a bailiff then emerged from his home with a carving knife.
He plunged it into the face of Mr Etchells, severing his carotid artery and jugular.

The 48-year-old has been left with a scar running the length of his jawbone.
Judge Jonathan Geake told Williams: "For many weeks you had been planning what would happen if anybody came to evict you from this house."
Williams was cleared of attempted murder but found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The judge said Mr Etchells was "a man doing no more than what was his professional duty".
He was off work for six months but returned to work in May 2007 and is now back to his normal duties.
Mr Etchells said: "This feels like is the last in a long line of obstacles I have faced over the past year and I am pleased that my family and I can now look to the future and put the whole ordeal behind us."

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Man sentenced for stabbing of PCSO (Tameside)



http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pa...8400478BA0.htm

A man who stabbed a Police Community Support Officer in the neck has been given a hospital order at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Albert Williams, 63 (born 20/10/43) was found guilty of Section 18 wounding on Friday 22 June 2007.

Just before 11am on 4 December 2006, PCSO Gary Etchells was called to Elizabeth Avenue in Stalybridge to assist with a prearranged eviction. When Gary arrived at the house, Williams was inside, refusing to come out.

There were several people at the address as part of the eviction, including two County Court bailiffs, representatives from New Charter Housing and a joiner.
Gary shouted up to Williams's window in an attempt to persuade him to come out, but got no response. He then walked along a path to the front door and knocked on Williams's front door.

Williams did not answer the door, but instead shouted out of the window that they had no right to take him out of his house.

He continued to shout, at which point the County Court bailiff shouted back.

Gary contacted the Area Operations Room via his radio to request assistance from a uniform patrol.

At this point, the County Court Bailiff instructed the joiner to drill the lock out, which he did.

Williams then opened his front door, brandishing two kitchen knives, one in each hand. He then put one of the knives down and picked up a pan of water, which he threw at the bailiff and the joiner.

Gary was backing away from the door when Williams lunged at him with the remaining knife, striking him on his right cheek and causing an injury which carried through to the back of his neck, severing two nerves and one artery and puncturing the main artery.

Uniform officers arrived at the scene and Williams was arrested.

Gary was given first aid at the scene and was then taken to Tameside General Hospital. However, when he was there, the vein in his neck ruptured again and he lost a significant amount of blood, deteriorating rapidly. He had two emergency operations, lost around five litres of blood in total, needed 37 stitches to his cheek and had several blood transfusions.

Since the incident, Gary has had several operations. He was off work for six months but returned to work in May 2007 and is now back to his normal duties.

As a result of his injuries, Gary has permanently lost the feeling down the left side of his neck. His voice box was also damaged and he is currently undergoing speech therapy.

PCSO Gary Etchells said: "This feels like is the last in a long line of obstacles I have faced over the past year and I am pleased that my family and I can now look to the future and put the whole ordeal behind us. Having the support of our friends and colleagues has certainly made a difference, and for that we are truly grateful. The support from the Stalybridge community has been immense and we cannot thank you enough."