Man jailed for violent attack on police officer | UK News

A man who punched a police officer in the face and head multiple times has been jailed for nine years.

Richard Nodwell, 37, assaulted Gwent Police officer Nathan Attwell in Cwmbran on 20 December 2024, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

PC Attwell suffered significant facial injuries and was taken to hospital following the attack, which happened as he was responding to a 999 call.

Nodwell, from Oakfield, Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding grievous bodily harm without intent and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

Warning: This story contains graphic details and images

Richard Nodwell was sentenced to nine years and four months in jail, including an extended licence period of three years.

For two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker he was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment to run concurrently.

The court heard Nodwell was spoken to by the officer while attending a 999 call in Cwmbran, Torfaen, and became increasingly agitated during the conversation.

He attacked PC Attwell, punching him multiple times to the face before pushing him to the ground.

Nodwell continued the assault, using both fists to punch the officer to the face and head numerous times, and then kicked him in the head before walking off.

When other officers arrived and arrested Nodwell, he continued to be aggressive, assaulting one officer by spitting on his hand and biting another’s boot.

Nodwell pleaded guilty to section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding grievous bodily harm without intent and two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker in a hearing on 20 January 2025.

Bodyworn footage from PC Attwell was shown in court, in which Nodwell can be seen attacking the officer, punching him repeatedly, knocking him to the ground before kicking him and running off.

PC Attwell was knocked unconscious during the attack and the footage shows members of the public trying to help him as he was bleeding.

Further bodyworn footage from the officers arresting Nodwell later on also shows him being aggressive, shouting and swearing at officers, biting the boot of one and spitting at another.

PC Attwell, who was in court surrounded by family and colleagues, spent days in hospital with severe facial injuries including a fractured cheekbone, eye socket and broken nose.

Judge Hywel James said the bodyworn footage showed PC Attwell’s behaviour was “entirely appropriate” showing “considerable courtesy and patience” to the defendant. He said Nodwell was “aggressive” and “violent”.

Judge James said Attwell suffered “grave physical injuries” and had a “serious effect on his wellbeing”.

Addressing Nodwell, he said PC Attwell was “vulnerable when lying motionless on the ground “when you chose to kick him to the head with considerable force”.

The attack was “prolonged and persistent” adding it was a “violent and sustained attack” to an officer who was “there to protect members of the public.

Judge James said there were aggravating features including the fact the attack took place in public while he was under the influence of alcohol, but he did also take into account that Nodwell was “remorseful”.

However he said Nodwell presented a “high risk of serious harm” to other police officers and a medium risk to the public and so he was given an extended sentence.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court today, PC Attwell said that on the first night he returned home from hospital he was “scared to go to sleep just in case something happened to him overnight as a result of his injuries”.

He added “it is making me feel apprehensive and worried about going back to work” which he had never expected.

PC Attwell added: “I never imagined it would happen to me and I still don’t know what the full impact will be on my physical and mental wellbeing.”

He said he has since been offered a new role as a police trainer which he has accepted as “this incident has left me wary and apprehensive about returning to my normal duties”.

Chief Constable Mark Hobrough from Gwent Police also provided a statement saying that he visited the local team following the incident.

“It was palpably noticeable the effect the attack had had on them,” he said.

“Some of them were also considering their options about whether they should stay in policing.”

Attacks like this he said have a “major and far reaching effect”, he added.

Speaking after the sentencing, Ryan Randall from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “This is one of the most shocking attacks on a police officer I have seen.

“Nodwell carried out this sickening act of violence on a uniformed officer conducting his lawful duties, showing a complete disregard for his authority.”

He said that any assault or abuse of an emergency worker was viewed extremely seriously by the CPS.

“Emergency workers are there to help the public and should be able to do so safely and without fear,” he added.