A MAN has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years plus five years on extended licence after violently attacking a female police officer in the course of her duty.

Guy Pottle, 39, of no fixed abode in Exeter, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of attempted grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding at a hearing at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday, March 26.

The court heard that in the incident on Tuesday, February 10 at a property on Drake Road, Newton Abbot, Pottle smashed a glass bottle over Police Constable Alice Beer’s head and immediately afterwards, attempted to throw her from a first-floor balcony.

PC Beer was treated in hospital for a large cut over her right eye, multiple smaller cuts to her face, as well as bruising and scratches to her neck and arms and was later discharged.

Pottle had been released on licence from jail after being convicted of manslaughter in 2019 and was recalled to prison as a result of breaching his licence.

His Honour Judge James Patrick jailed Pottle for 10 years and six months for the charge of attempted grievous bodily harm and three years for unlawful wounding, to be served concurrently.

The judge said Pottle presented a significant risk to the public and added an extended licence of five years to the sentence.

He said Pottle will serve two-thirds of the custodial term before being eligible for parole, which would only be granted if safe to do so, with terms applied.

Officers had initially attended the address shortly after midnight on Tuesday, February 10 following a report of assault on a woman at a block of flats on Drake Road.

On arrival, Pottle was seen on a ledge over the balcony and PC Beer gained entry to the building when a resident allowed her through a locked door and up to the suspect's location.

She grabbed Pottle’s arm and attempted to stop him jumping to which he reacted by hitting her with a glass vodka bottle before climbing back on to the balcony, attacking her and attempting to push her over the railings.

PC Beer was only able to prevent herself from falling headfirst from the balcony to the ground several metres below by clinging on to the railings.

She continued to defend herself against Pottle when he punched her multiple times and he was then seen to jump from the balcony and was arrested as other officers arrived at the scene.

Pottle also sustained injuries that required hospital treatment.

In his summing up, HHJ Patrick said: “You are an extremely dangerous man and the public needs to be protected from you.

“I accept you have had a difficult life and background, but Alice Beer tried her best to help you, you simply attacked her. The footage is simply chilling.

“She thought she would die, she thought she would go head-first – you intended that.

“You didn’t desist. You fronted up to her and punched her to her head and face.

“With considerable bravery, she has repeated in court your behaviour on her.”

He also commended PC Beer for her bravery and public service.

In the immediate aftermath, PC Beer said: “He tried to throw me over the balcony,” and “I thought I was going to die.”

Speaking since she returned to work, PC Beer said: “This is an event that will continue to affect me in all aspects of my life, especially when I am working.

“I don't think I will ever be able to thank everyone who has supported me through this, especially those on my team and my crewmate that night, and it's to them I truly owe being able to return to work when I did.

“I was simply trying to do my job, attempting to ensure no one came to any harm, and I was met with such violence.

“I feel that this is something I will never truly fully process, and I hope that no one in my position ever has to go through such an event.”

Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, Commander, South Devon, said: “Incidents like this are thankfully rare but it puts into sharp focus the risks officers regularly face in order to protect others from harm.

“I would like to publicly commend PC Beer for the bravery she showed when attending this incident and the incredible fortitude she has shown since. Her response to this has been quite simply humbling, and she has vowed not to let this incident define her career.

“As a new officer, her actions and bravery cannot be underestimated. Like all of us, she joined policing to help others and protect the vulnerable, and I thoroughly commend her for tackling the situation even though it meant putting herself at significant risk.

“Thankfully PC Beer has since returned to frontline duties.

“Although assaults such as this are rare, the impact of this incident has been felt across the organisation and especially by other colleagues who attended. I think we all realise that this incident could easily have resulted in a much more tragic outcome.

"Our officers provide a high-quality service to the public and demonstrate personal commitment, dedication and courage on a daily basis and I have nothing but praise for all those at the scene during what were some extremely difficult and challenging circumstances. Also recognising the impact on the families of those involved, we will continue to provide support to PC Beer, her colleagues and those affected.

“While the nature of policing brings inherent risks with it, being assaulted on duty should never be condoned or seen as ‘part of the job’ and any injury to an officer on duty is treated with the utmost seriousness.”

“The reality of policing, particularly when responding to emergencies, is that officers may have to face a situation which could endanger their lives, and Devon & Cornwall Police will always seek to pursue and prosecute those who threaten or assault officers.”

“Thankfully these incidents are rare, and Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly remains one of the safest places in the country.”

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system.

You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.