Federation chair hits out at 'lenient' sentence in officer assault case

28 September 2018

Leicestershire Police Federation chair Tiff Lynch has expressed her anger and dismay at the ‘lenient’ sentence given to a man who rode a motorcycle at a police officer and subsequently repeatedly kicked him in the face.

Jake Cunnington was given a ‘final chance’ by a judge at Leicester Crown Court who handed down a 12-month detention sentence, suspended for two years and ordered him to do 150 hours’ unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for two years, placed on a three-month 9pm to 6am curfew and ordered to pay the officer £500 compensation.

He had pleaded guilty to dangerously riding a trials bike, assaulting a police officer, riding otherwise in accordance with a driving licence, having no insurance or protective headgear and not having a valid MOT certificate.

“I am at a loss to understand why this man has been given such a lenient sentence when he has shown utter contempt for the law and for the police,” says Tiff, who represents Leicestershire’s constables, sergeants and inspecting ranks.

“He put the lives of members of the public, including young children, at risk, riding his motorcycle recklessly through the city centre. When the police officer intervened, out of concern for people’s safety, and pulled him from the bike, he was subjected to a vicious assault, being kicked several times in the face, leaving the officer with a black eye, cuts, grazes and bruises.

“I do not think the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed by this man. I don’t believe it suitably punishes the offender or that it acts as a deterrent to others who may think that they can break the law in this way, attack those who seek to uphold the law and then receive a lenient sentence.

“Police officers should not be subjected to these kind of attacks. They join the police to serve and protect their communities. They should have a reasonable expectation when they start their shift that they will not be assaulted by members of those communities. 

“It is time the judiciary stopped giving those who assault police officers and other emergency service workers more and more chances. What chance did this officer have when he was laying on the floor being kicked in the face?”

The judge was told Cunnington (20) was remorseful, had a partner and a young daughter, that he was working as an electrician’s mate with good prospects.

But Tiff says he simply used every emotional trick in the book to avoid a custodial sentence.

“He was riding that bike without a helmet. When the officer approached, he revved the engine and drove at him. That was not panic, that was to ensure he got away at all costs. When he was pulled from the bike by the officer, who wanted to avoid an innocent bystander being injured, he repeatedly kicked him,” says Tiff.

“He wasn’t thinking of his job, his partner or his young child when he rode that bike in such a reckless and dangerous manner. He wasn’t thinking of what could have happened to him or a member of the public had an accident occurred.  He only thought to use them to use the get out of jail card.

“This sentence has shown in this instance, and many others that have gone before, that the judiciary has little regard for the risks my members face each and every time they do a shift. They don’t go out on shift to get assaulted. They go out to protect the public we serve, to fight and prevent crime, to keep order yet every day an officer is assaulted.”

Tiff will be now looking to see if the sentence can be reviewed.

Leicestershire Police Federation has been an active supporter of the national Federation’s Protect the Protectors campaign which led to the introduction of the new Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act just a few weeks ago. It doubles the maximum sentence for an assault against emergency service workers from six to 12 months. The Federation still wants to see even tougher sentences introduced.

Tiff, who is a member of the Federation’s National Board and secretary of its Parliamentary Working Group, will be discussing her concerns over this latest case and others with Conservative MPs at next week’s Tory Party Conference in Birmingham.

“I want MPs to fully understand what police officers are up against,” says Tiff, “They join the police service to serve and protect their communities in return I think it is only fair that the law should protect them.”