- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
A thug who launched a horror attack on a police officer and left him unconscious on the pavement has been jailed.
PC Nathan Attwell had responded to reports of an ‘aggressive and intoxicated man’ in Cwmbran, south Wales, on December 20, when he found the drunken Richard Nodwell.
After being confronted, the thug launched a brutal attack on PC Attwell which left him with a fractured eye socket, broken cheek bone and broken nose.
Bodycam footage of the violence shows the policeman initially pleading with the suspect to ‘show me your hands’ to which Nodwell, who has previous convictions, responds: ‘Don’t touch me, don’t touch my personal body!’
PC Attwell, commentating on the video released by Gwent Police, then describes how he threatened to use his ‘spray’ in order to make the suspect comply.
With the smirking Nodwell becoming increasingly irate, PC Attwell attempts to grab the thug’s hands himself, which is when the criminal throws his first right hook.
As the policeman falls to the floor, the enraged thug continues his attack, throwing punches with both hands at the officer who lies wailing on the ground.
Eventually, after throwing at least 12 blows in a heartless onslaught lasting some 50 seconds, Nodwell fled the scene leaving his victim unconscious.
But the criminal was found a short time later by two police officers who he also assaulted – spitting at one and biting the other.
Nodwell was immediately arrested by Gwent Police on suspicion of section 18 assault and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker before later being charged.
After pleading guilty, the thug was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to six years and four months in prison with an extended license of three years.
PC Attwell, who is doing well in his recovery, recalls not being able to sleep after the battering for fears that he wouldn’t wake up.
‘When you join the police service, there’s a stigma that sometimes you’ve got to put up with abuse, whether that be shouting, swearing, spitting, or kicking,’ he said.
‘However, no one goes to work to be assaulted, especially when they are just trying to help someone.
‘The night of the assault I was afraid to go to sleep in case I didn’t wake up.
‘Why is it, that people like Nodwell feel it’s ok to assault police officers and expect no consequences for doing so?’
Chief Constable Mark Hobrough of Gwent Police said in a statement following Nodwell’s sentencing: ‘I would like to commend Nathan for bravely speaking out about this awful attack which has significantly affected him, his family, the wider community, and all of us at Gwent Police.
‘Our officers, Nathan included, are more than their uniform – they are members of our community, they are parents, siblings, and friends, who love and are loved.
‘They come to work to make a difference and will be there during your time of need. Just like you wouldn’t expect to be assaulted while carrying out your job, they shouldn’t either.
‘Regardless of what you think of the police, our officers will put themselves between you and danger, without hesitation. Too often I see the devastating impact these assaults have on police officers and other emergency workers.
‘Nodwell will now be behind bars for a significant amount of time, he is a dangerous man with prior convictions, and I am glad he is no longer living in our community.
‘Let this be a lesson to those who may think it is ok to assault emergency workers, we will take action and you will be held accountable.’
