West Yorkshire police chief hits out after Elland man is jailed for biting Calderdale officer

Brearley was caught on CCTV smashing a pint glass into the face of Ashley Dodd during an incident at the Courtyard pub in Halifax and after his arrest the handcuffed 43-year-old was captured on bodycam footage biting into a police constable's finger.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the officer was still waiting for the all-clear from blood tests taken after the attack in August.

Chief Constable Dee Collins, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “You join the police force to protect others from harm but unfortunately we are increasingly seeing frontline officers and staff subjected to violent attacks as they work to keep our communities safe.

“It is estimated that nationally a police officer is assaulted every four minutes. This is simply unacceptable. Being spat at, wrestled, hit and kicked should not be part of the day job.

“The uniform shouldn’t be seen as a reason to attack someone but, quite the opposite, it should be a reason not to. We strongly support the tougher sanctions that the ‘Protect the Protectors’ bill would put in place for those who attack police and other emergency services and urge MPs to give it their full support."

Brearley, of Old Mill Mews, pleaded guilty to wounding his friend Mr Dodd when he lashed out with the pint glass and also admitted a charge of assault in respect of the officer.

Judge Rose said Brearley had acted "like a savage" in biting the officer and custody could be the only outcome for those who attacked officers.

The judge noted that since the incident the officer had laboured under the fear that Brearley may have infected him with a disease and he also said the defendant had expressed no remorse.

"The blame you tried to attribute to Mr Dodd and the officer demonstrates that you do not have any remorse for those people both of whom were entirely innocent victims of your vicious behaviour that night," said the judge.

Brearley was jailed for 16 months for each attack with an additional four months imposed in place of the two community orders.