A police officer says an offender who broke his nose and eye socket in a bid to avoid arrest “has made me second think the job as I know it”. PC Sam Darling said: “I do not come to work to be assaulted. I come to work to help vulnerable people and have a duty of care to members of the public.”
The police officer’s comments were read out in a victim personal statement in the courtroom where his attacker was jailed.
Nadir Bugtti, 32, knocked PC Darling to the ground in a desperate attempt to escape after being stopped while driving in Orton Longueville on 14 January this year.
Information had come back on his vehicle that the driver may only have a provisional licence and be uninsured.
Bugtti was arrested but while waiting to be got into a van to be taken to custody, he broke free and tried to run away, jumping into PC Darling and knocking him to the ground.
Other officers managed to catch up with him nearby and he was taken into custody. A search revealed he was carrying cannabis and cocaine, and his phone was found to contain evidence of drug dealing.
Bugtti, of Swale Avenue, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to GBH without intent, escaping police custody, possession with intent to supply class B drugs and possession of class A drugs.
He was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on November 10 to two years and ten months in prison.
DC Rhiann Ward, who investigated, said: “Bugtti clearly made off from police as he knew he had been caught out. However, the quick actions of all the officers involved resulted in getting more drugs off the street and over time the evidence stacked up against Bugtti leading to guilty pleas.
“I am pleased Bugtti has been jailed, getting a positive outcome for PC Darling after he was attacked whilst trying to protect others.
“I hope this incident shows the reality of the work police officers do on a daily basis and brings it home that we are people too.”
