15 November 2021

#ProtectTheProtectors: Disregard and disrespect of officers should automatically be attracting the maximum possible sanction

A man who grabbed a police officer by the genitals and spat at him has been jailed for 10 weeks – but Dorset Police Federation feels a stiffer sentence should have been imposed.

Stuart Dillon was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment relating to an assault on PC Dan Blagden.

PC Blagden was assisting colleagues in the search for a vulnerable missing person. During this search he was approached by Dillon who was brandishing a bottle of Jack Daniels threatening officers.

Following numerous attempts to deescalate, Dillon proceeded to spit on the officers and grabbed PC Blagden by his genitals.

“This was a painful and degrading attack on a uniformed officer,” said James Dimmack, Chair of Dorset Police Federation.

“I have spoken with PC Blagden who is glad that justice has been served. He is however annoyed that the judge specified that he was imposing the “minimum” sentence. This is totally at odds with the vital message around protecting the protectors.

“10 weeks minimum sentence for threatening an officer with a bottle, spitting on him and then violently assaulting him in the most sensitive of areas… frankly this sort of disregard and disrespect should automatically be attracting the maximum possible sanction.”

He added: “Thankfully PC Blagden is ok but that is not the point. Officers and all emergency service workers need the protection of the justice system to provide a real and effective deterrent against assaulting public servants trying to do the best job they can.”