Man in court for stabbing policeman

1:49pm Monday 18th August 2008

A Somali man who stabbed a police dog and her handler has been told he could face a life sentence.

Essa Suleiman was given the warning when he appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court after admitting the serious assault.

Judge Douglas Filed told the 27-year-old that he was considering imprisoning him for public protection under new dangerous offender laws.

That would mean he would only be released when the parole board thought he no longer presented a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

The judge announced his thinking to Suleiman's barrister Kwame Inyundo at a hearing today.

He said: "I want to make it quite clear that my preliminary view of this is that your client is dangerous.

"My preliminary view is imprisonment for public protection. It is only right I give you that indication now so you can make the appropriate submissions when you come back before me."

Suleiman had been due to face sentence but the hearing had to be adjourned over problems obtaining a second psychiatric report on him.

The judge needs a second medical report if he is to consider making a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

He adjourned the case to Wednesday, September 24 and remanded Suleiman in custody.

The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to five matters when he appeared before a judge in June.

But he was been brought back before the court the following month and changed his pleas to four of the five counts.

He admitted two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to police constables Neil Sampson and Michael Mansell.

Suleiman also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm on fellow Somali Ahmed Huriye and criminal damage relating to his attack on police dog Anya.

Mr Inyundo, defending, said the defendant had suffered mental health problems for a number of years and the court may consider a hospital order as a sentence.

"In short he was mentally unwell at the time and had been deteriorating over the New Year," he said.

Mr Inyundo said the court ought to be considering imposing a hospital order with restriction order to protect the public rather than a prison term.

He would then only be released when he is deemed safe to be discharged and could be ordered to abide by certain conditions like receiving medical assistance.

PC Sampson was one of the officers responding to a 999 call to Briarswood Court in Liden on the evening of Thursday January 3.

The 47-year-old father of three required surgery at the Great Western Hospital after suffering two deep gashes in his legs and a four inch stab injury to his head.

Anya, a two and a half year old German shepherd, was stabbed in the chest and was monitored overnight by a vet.

Fellow officer PC Mansell was also hurt during the incident but did not need hospital treatment and Mr Huriye also suffered injuries during an incident at the premises.

Suleiman, of Boundary Road, Camberwell, south London, admitted two counts of wounding with intent one of actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

A charge of affray to which he maintained his not guilty plea will be left to lie on the file when he is sentenced.

PC Sampson was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal after 22 years in the force by Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire John Bush at a ceremony in police headquarters on Monday July 1.