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9:16am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Latest By Paula Roberts
A DRUG dealer was yesterday jailed for 25 years for attempting to murder an on-duty Dorset Police officer.
Michael Edward, 45, stabbed PC Craig Bartlett as the officer tried to arrest him as part of a lengthy drug surveillance operation.
PC Bartlett was stabbed twice – once in the hip and another in the shoulder – and doctors said he was lucky to be alive.
One wound penetrated 12cm into his stomach and was described by doctors as “potentially fatal”.
The second another wound plunged half way through his shoulder blade.
Bournemouth Crown Court previously heard the attack happened at 7.55pm on February 21 last year when Edward was under surveillance by a team of plain-clothed police officers, including PC Bartlett.
They suspected him of drug dealing.
Edward had stepped outside his flat in Surrey Road, Bourne-mouth, to carry out a drugs deal when he was approached by PC Barlett who shouted “Stop police”. Edward pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer.
Damage on PC Barlett’s jacket suggested Edward had attempted to stab him a third time.
Edward was convicted of attempted murder by a jury at Bournemouth Crown Court on December 19.
Edward had pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply after £2,000-worth of cocaine was found in the bush outside his home.
During his trial Edward said he was not aware PC Barlett was a police officer, although evidence was heard from PC Barlett that he shouted “Stop police” twice – something that was supported by a number of other officers at the scene.
Following the stabbing PC Barlett was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery.
The court heard PC Barlett made a good recovery and returned to operational duties at the beginning of May last year.
But having to relive the ordeal through the trial had serious psychological effects on PC Bartlett and he had to stop work at the beginning of January suffering from post-traumatic stress.
Charlie Gabb, prosecuting, said: “This was all, the Crown say, him trying to kill Mr Bartlett because he was caught absolutely red handed dealing in class A drugs.”
Mr Gabb said Edward had some previous convictions for drug offences and forgery but no convictions for violence.
Mitigating, Jerome Lynch said Edward has expressed “genuine remorse” for the injuries he caused PC Bartlett.
In a letter to his victim, Edward wrote: “I write this letter to you to express my humble apologies for the pain and suffering brought to you and your family for my actions caused while carrying out your job.
“I hope some day you will find it in your heart to forgive my actions because they were purely unintentional. I understand how difficult your job can be.”
Mr Lynch said friends and family described Edward as an “honest, hardworking family person”.
Sentencing Edward, Judge Samuel Wiggs said: “You formed the intention, no doubt, that you would kill him so you could make good your own escape.
“You plunged that large knife deep inside his body.
“At the time, you, as an active drug dealer, were prepared to kill a person who was trying to arrest you. Your sorrow is on benefit of hindsight.”
Speaking after the case, DS Wayne Seymour, of Bournemouth CID, said: “PC Bartlett sustained very serious injuries as a result of the vicious attack by Michael Edward.
“Thankfully he is now back at work, but the consequences could have been far, far worse.
“Clearly, Edward’s actions were entirely reprehensible and we welcome the sentence that was handed down by the judge today.
“This case highlights the dangers of knives and I would like to make it clear that Dorset Police will use the full force of the law to deal with anyone who keeps such items about their person.”
Comments(27)
anonEmouse
says...
12:46pm Wed 1 Feb 12
anonEmouse
says...
12:50pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Tommo.
says...
12:55pm Wed 1 Feb 12
anonEmouse wrote:Hardly relevant.
Bournemouth echo, do you have an illiterate proof reader? 8th paragraph since when is Bournemouth spelled this way? "Edward had stepped outside his flat in Surrey Road, Bourne-mouth"
anonEmouse
says...
1:11pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Tommo. wrote:More relevant than your post, and the Echo often makes simple grammatical errors. Which simply should not happen especially since its the Bournemouth Echo and they should at least spell Bournemouth correctly. FYI I posted my comments on the subject above. Which is more than you have done. So whos post is relevant?
anonEmouse wrote:Hardly relevant.
Bournemouth echo, do you have an illiterate proof reader? 8th paragraph since when is Bournemouth spelled this way? "Edward had stepped outside his flat in Surrey Road, Bourne-mouth"
funkyferret
says...
1:53pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Goonsquad
says...
2:26pm Wed 1 Feb 12
funkyferret wrote:'Thank you to the judge for protecting society.....'?
At last! An effective sentence passed that might actually have some deterrant effect on other members of society contemplating similar deeds. We all owe a big 'Thank you' to the judge for protecting society from this menace, and keeping us all inherantly safer.
Bewildered1
says...
3:05pm Wed 1 Feb 12
contric
says...
3:07pm Wed 1 Feb 12
mansak_hunt
says...
3:27pm Wed 1 Feb 12
contric wrote:If inside for over 10 years you must serve 2/3rds of sentence (minimum).
will he actually be in jail for 25 years if he gets the usual time off for this that and the other he wont serve anything like 25 years also ds seymour saying he welcomed the sentence while i salute officers bravery i think some of them are as soft as the dopey judges this man will never be of any use to society and should rot inside
Bewildered1
says...
3:36pm Wed 1 Feb 12
WIGGINSv
says...
3:57pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Cookie75
says...
5:35pm Wed 1 Feb 12
speedy231278
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6:46pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Goonsquad
says...
10:51pm Wed 1 Feb 12
speedy231278 wrote:....the Law's got to look after itself. In case you've been asleep for the past few months, there's no one else looking out for it! It also looks after you. When you're tucked up at night it's rolling around in the gutter with a crack head or creeping through your garden after the burglar or scraping someone's brains off the A338. When you get up and have your cornflakes , it'll all be OK and you'll not have a clue what's been done by people like PC Bartlett and his small (and getting smaller!) gang.
The double standards in this country sicken me. The law is only interested in proper convictions when it has been coppers under attack or taxes not paid. This thug gets 25 years for trying to kill a copper, yet a bunch of kids convicted of *actually* killing someone are out in literally a couple of years throwing out petulant posts on Facebook. I guess it's a sign the the law only looks after itself and anyone else can go and whistle for justice!
s-pb2
says...
11:14pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Goonsquad wrote:Very well put Goonsquad. And Speedy you are way off the mark, the sentencing of Jake Brand only the day before demonstrates that
speedy231278 wrote:....the Law's got to look after itself. In case you've been asleep for the past few months, there's no one else looking out for it! It also looks after you. When you're tucked up at night it's rolling around in the gutter with a crack head or creeping through your garden after the burglar or scraping someone's brains off the A338. When you get up and have your cornflakes , it'll all be OK and you'll not have a clue what's been done by people like PC Bartlett and his small (and getting smaller!) gang.
The double standards in this country sicken me. The law is only interested in proper convictions when it has been coppers under attack or taxes not paid. This thug gets 25 years for trying to kill a copper, yet a bunch of kids convicted of *actually* killing someone are out in literally a couple of years throwing out petulant posts on Facebook. I guess it's a sign the the law only looks after itself and anyone else can go and whistle for justice!
andydixon
says...
6:31am Thu 2 Feb 12
mansak_hunt wrote:I don't know where you heard that. He'll be out in 12 and a half. The only exceptions to the 'half-way' parole are for lifers.
contric wrote:If inside for over 10 years you must serve 2/3rds of sentence (minimum).
will he actually be in jail for 25 years if he gets the usual time off for this that and the other he wont serve anything like 25 years also ds seymour saying he welcomed the sentence while i salute officers bravery i think some of them are as soft as the dopey judges this man will never be of any use to society and should rot inside
He'll serve about 16 years.
Thinker1
says...
1:24am Fri 3 Feb 12
andydixon
says...
2:00am Fri 3 Feb 12
speedy231278 wrote:I was nearly killed by an off-duty policeman 24 years ago in a road accident. Apparently on his way home from work although his shift finished 2 hours before and he lived 3 miles away from his station. I spent weeks in intensive care and hospital and will be in constant pain for life. It was a year before I could walk again.
The double standards in this country sicken me. The law is only interested in proper convictions when it has been coppers under attack or taxes not paid. This thug gets 25 years for trying to kill a copper, yet a bunch of kids convicted of *actually* killing someone are out in literally a couple of years throwing out petulant posts on Facebook. I guess it's a sign the the law only looks after itself and anyone else can go and whistle for justice!
there are 2 sides to any story
says...
7:49am Fri 3 Feb 12
there are 2 sides to any story
says...
8:05am Fri 3 Feb 12
ThomasChant
says...
12:49pm Fri 3 Feb 12
anonEmouse wrote:"Which simply should not happen especially since it's (...ie 'it is', not 'its' which would indicate some form of possession) the Bournemouth Echo."
Tommo. wrote:More relevant than your post, and the Echo often makes simple grammatical errors. Which simply should not happen especially since its the Bournemouth Echo and they should at least spell Bournemouth correctly. FYI I posted my comments on the subject above. Which is more than you have done. So whos post is relevant?anonEmouse wrote: Bournemouth echo, do you have an illiterate proof reader? 8th paragraph since when is Bournemouth spelled this way? "Edward had stepped outside his flat in Surrey Road, Bourne-mouth"Hardly relevant.
ThomasChant
says...
12:52pm Fri 3 Feb 12
s-pb2
says...
2:58pm Fri 3 Feb 12
there are 2 sides to any story wrote:well thats not what the jury thought
I wont disrespect all you above for your comments as you commented on the facts given to you.
But are you aware that this was a plain clothes officer who was so anxious he didnt even identify himself but instead just jumped on the man and started to strangle him? NO you were not told that were you?
ok my question to all of you is
If you were in the privacy of your yard (not on the street) using your knife and some random person just out of the blue crept up, jumped on you and started to strangle you what would you do?
another question is do you think the police was going to go back to his supervisor and say i totally forgot to identify myself before i jumped on this man? OF COURSE NOT because he would have breached the PACE ACT 1984 which sets out how an arrest should be carried out. he would have been suspended from his job, he would have gotten no compensation for his injuries and this 'drug dealer' he is trying to get would be free.
so of course he was going to say he identified himself (he is protecting himself) and of course his fellow officer who were not even at the scene was going to support him.
people look at the wider picture dont be manipulated!
this man is not a mad man the drug they found on him was a wrapper smaller than a five pence coin tell me how much time could he have gotten for that?he would not even have gotten 5 minutes in a police station. so ask yourself why would he then stab this police and put himself in greater trouble????hmmmmm surface thinkers answer me
this man has no voilent convictions up until now neither has he got a mad certificate so why would he stab a police officer?????????????
???
the police officers say he done it to get away because he was caught dealing drug, WHAT DRUG? a wrapper of drug smaller than a 5pence coin come on now do you think this man is stupid what could they have done to him for that much?
there are 2 sides to any story
says...
4:52pm Fri 3 Feb 12
there are 2 sides to any story
says...
5:01pm Fri 3 Feb 12
bbiff
says...
5:59pm Fri 3 Feb 12
there are 2 sides to any story wrote:There are two sides to every story. One side of the story is that you think that your comment is valid. The other is that most people probably think you are an imbecile.
assuming you know what unanimous means and listen I dont speak imbecile so therefore unable to argue with you.
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mansak_hunt says...
10:29am Wed 1 Feb 12
ha yeah right you unintentionally stabbed the policeman 3 times.
One less **** on our streets.