Man jailed after hitting police officer with a brick during routine stop in Lancaster

The officer had to activate his emergency button when he was assaulted with a brick by George Jacob during a routine stop on November 22 2023.

What ended in a police officer suffering serious injuries all began when he spotted Jacob and another man in possession of an electric motorbike.

The PC began a conversation with the men, and seized the motorbike, but Jacob quickly became violent, shouting at the officer and pushing him before running away.

Jacob later returned, armed with a brick. He threw the brick through the driver’s side window of the car where the PC had gone to fill out some paperwork, hitting him in the face.

The officer was taken to hospital and had suffered severe concussion, two chipped teeth, a laceration to face and had to have an amount of glass removed from his face.

Thankfully, he made a quick recovery and has returned to policing the streets of Lancashire.

Jacob was arrested, and following a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, charged with wounding with intent, criminal damage, and assaulting an emergency worker.

Jacob, 42 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to Section 20 wounding, police assault and criminal damage.

He was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Sessions House, Preston Crown Court, at a hearing on April 14.

In a Victim Personal Statement to the court, the officer said: “I have been a police officer for nearly seven years. I love my job and I'm good at it; but this incident has caused me to re-evaluate my career as a constable.

“I want to help people, protect victims and put those who don't belong on the streets away, but when my safety is put on the line and my ability to provide for my wife and daughter is jeopardised by such a cowardly act, it has made me feel like it’s no longer worth it.”

He ended his statement with: “I feel angry towards the defendant that rather than standing in front of me and seeing that I'm not just a Police Officer in uniform, I'm a friend, husband and a father, he spinelessly threw a brick and ran off, failing to face the consequences of his actions.

“He would have known what he did would have cause me such injuries, but he chose himself and tried to evade facing what he'd done, fleeing the area.”

Detective Inspector Adie Knowles of Lancaster CID said: “No one should go to work to be assaulted, but sadly this officer was, for simply doing his job.

“They shouldn’t have to worry about being injured by someone else, for trying to keep the public safe.

“Whilst it isn’t my place to comment on the sentence itself, I, and the officer involved do want to tell you about this, so that you know it is not and never will be acceptable.

“It is not something to be accepted, it is not ‘just part of the job’. It is a criminal act, and one that will not be tolerated.”