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Video: Jailed for samurai sword cop attack
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| PC John Clarke being treated for his injuries |
A 45-YEAR-OLD man who
attacked a police officer with a samurai sword has been jailed.
Richard Skeates, of St Hilda's Way, Gravesend, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court with a recommendation he should serve a minimum of five-and-a-half years.
The sentencing on July 10
followed a five-day trial in May in which he was convicted of GBH with intent.
The court heard how on October 20 last year PC John Clarke of north Kent police visited Skeates' home with another officer to
arrest him for breaching an ASBO.
Nobody answered the door but officers knew he was in the house after seeing him peering through a window.
After 20 minutes PC Clarke broke down the door.
As he entered the living room Skeates emerged from behind a door armed with a samurai sword. PC Clarke fired pepper spray into his face but Skeates smashed the sword down onto the officer's forehead.
Despite the blow, PC Clarke wrestled the attacker to the floor to arrest him and returned to work the next day.
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| Richard Skeates |
When police searched Skeates' home they found a cache of martial art weapons, including four different types of knife, six batons, three nunchucku, some ninja death stars and a smaller samurai sword.
Sentencing Skeates, Judge Michael Lawson said: "You attacked PC Clarke with great
violence.
"It is a miracle the damage done to him was neither fatal nor caused severe physical or mental damage through breaking of the skull."
I WANTED STITCHES AND A BURGER'
SPEAKING after the hearing, PC Clarke, 27, who is married and soon to become a father for the first time, said: "When people ask me how I got the scar I tend to tell them I fell off my bike, otherwise I waste so much time telling the story.
"When you tell someone you were hit with a samurai sword, they want to know more."
He added: "I don't regret joining the police at all, but reflecting back on things - my injuries could have been fatal.
"At the time I just wanted to get stitched up and go for a burger."
11:48am Tuesday 15th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: The Real Me, Here on 3:50pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Looks like a little scratch to me.
Looks like a little scratch to me.
Posted by: .., .. on 9:37pm Tue 15 Jul 08
[quote][bold]The Real Me[/bold] wrote:
Looks like a little scratch to me.[/quote] Listen to the video, it's a three inch cut to his forehead!
I'm sure you wouldn't say it was a little scratch if it were you!
The Real Me wrote:
Looks like a little scratch to me.
Listen to the video, it's a three inch cut to his forehead!
I'm sure you wouldn't say it was a little scratch if it were you!
Posted by: Dave, Maidstone on 10:45pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Glad your ok Mr Policeman. I hope that scumbag serves hiss full sentence, and that the goverment dont overturn his sentence by allowing him to mend the error of his ways by having a tour of the local hospital instead, to find out how samarai swords can be dangerous. my guess is in this goverment he will be out again in 2 weeks.
Glad your ok Mr Policeman. I hope that scumbag serves hiss full sentence, and that the goverment dont overturn his sentence by allowing him to mend the error of his ways by having a tour of the local hospital instead, to find out how samarai swords can be dangerous. my guess is in this goverment he will be out again in 2 weeks.
Posted by: pat, gravesend on 10:14am Fri 18 Jul 08
yer mate its only a scracth why it got in papers dont no **** pigs hert them all
yer mate its only a scracth why it got in papers dont no **** pigs hert them all
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