Man jailed after police officer is assaulted.

A man convicted by a jury of assaulting a police officer and other offences will now spend 20 months in jail.

46-year-old Craig Thompson was wanted in connection with a commercial burglary when a Middlesbrough response PC went to arrest him on 22^nd June last year.

But when the male officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, began to arrest him Thompson turned violent, punching the officer twice before pinning him down and strangling him.

The PC urgently called colleagues to the scene and when they arrived, Thompson was safely detained, arrested, and later charged with the commercial burglary as well as assault of emergency worker, strangulation, and possession of cannabis.

Thankfully the officer did not suffer any lasting effects from the assault.

At court Thompson pleaded guilty to possessing a class B drug (cannabis) and the jury in a two-day trial at the end of January then found Thompson guilty of burglary, assaulting an emergency worker and strangulation.

On Friday last week (30^th January) he received his sentence.

Chief Inspector for Response Policing in Middlesbrough Ian Turnbull said: “Attacks on our officers and staff are never acceptable – they are here to uphold the law, deal with offenders and to keep people safe.

“Thompson displayed a disturbing level of violence, requiring several officers to deal with the situation and get him safely detained.

“I hope his sentencing sends a clear message that we will always do all we can to bring such offenders before the courts where they will be dealt with.”