Thug knocked out female cop and battered dog with plank of wood after being asked if his journey was essential
A VIOLENT thug knocked out a policewoman and whacked a dog with a plank of wood after being asked if his train journey was essential.
The rampaging man punched three officers, dragged one in front of an oncoming bus, and left the pup with cuts to its chin.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Nelson Nelson, 28, flew into a rage at Nottingham station after British Transport Police offers asked if his journey was essential amid ongoing coronavirus travel restrictions.
The crazed attack, which happened earlier this month, has seen the thug jailed for four years.
Mr Nelson verbally abused the transport police officers when he was approached at the station, telling them that he would “knock them out” for asking if his journey was necessary.
He was then escorted off the property, but punched both officers in the face and knocked them down.
One female officer fell unconscious, but the other managed to get up and chase after him.
Mr Nelson dragged the officer in front of a bus, and then fled to a building opposite the station.
More officers from Nottinghamshire Police were called in, but the enraged man charged and hit another officer before arming himself with a wooden plank with nails in and battering police dog Quantum and his handler.
Police were then able to arrest the 28-year-old, and found a lock-knife on his person.
There is never an excuse for this sort of behaviour, but it’s all the more shocking to think this violent rampage began after Nelson was simply asked if his journey was essential.
Chief Inspector Gareth Davies
Both transport police officers were taken to hospital – one was left with severe concussion and bruising to her face, while the other suffered tissue damage to his jaw and thumb, and bruising and swelling across his body.
Mr Nelson, from Birmingham, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court earlier this month where he pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm, assault with intent to resist arrest, assault of an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The court was told that Mr Nelson said he was “off to see his mates” in Sheffield according to NottinghamshireLive.
His lawyer, Joe Harvey, said: “The offences themselves really materialised out of nowhere. He came to Nottingham to visit a friend who had been ill in hospital. It is not a city he had any affinity with or been before. He described to me he ‘got lost’ in the train station”.
“He doesn’t in any way, through me, seek to turn and suggest that what happened was anyone’s fault other than his”.
He came to Nottingham to visit a friend who had been ill in hospital. It is not a city he had any affinity with or been before.
Lawyer Joe Harvey
After he was jailed for four years, police chiefs said the attack was “shocking”.
Chief Inspector Gareth Davies said: “This was a truly horrifying incident which involved a sustained attack on multiple officers and a dog, all just trying to do their jobs.
“There is never an excuse for this sort of behaviour, but it’s all the more shocking to think this violent rampage began after Nelson was simply asked if his journey was essential.
“Thankfully, no one was more seriously injured, and the officers involved are receiving the support they need.
“Let me be absolutely clear, we do not tolerate aggression or violence towards police officers and we will do everything in our power to ensure offenders like Nelson are brought before the courts to face justice.”
FRONTLINE ATTACKS
It comes amid a spate of grim attacks on frontline staff.
In one incident, a man bit a police officer and punched another while they tried to explain coronavirus lockdown rules to him.
Christopher Hill, 29, allegedly lashed out at the female cop and her colleague when they were called to a disturbance in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on April 9.
The officers had been attempting to explain to the man that he should follow government coronavirus guidelines on visiting people’s homes, when he reportedly punched one officer and bit a 21-year-old PC on the arm, forcing her to be treated in hospital.
most read in uk news
Meanwhile, a shoplifter spat at a police officer and laughed as he told him, “I have coronavirus”.
Oliver Cook, 35, was arrested outside a Kent supermarket on March 29 after he was seen trying to steal meat.
The thug also kicked out at another officer when he was loaded into the back of a police van.
