Lisa Timney, 42, walked into her kitchen and spoke to PC Adam Woodland while he sat in her living room making notes about a complaint she made about a neighbour
A drunk woman in a leopard print dressing gown flipped and tried to stab a police officer with a 12in knife as he tried to help her.
Lisa Timney, 42, walked into her kitchen and spoke to PC Adam Woodland while he sat in her living room making notes about a complaint she made about a neighbour.
But the Cleveland Police officer heard ‘clanking from the cutlery drawer’ and saw Timney walking towards him with a 12-inch kitchen knife partially behind her back.
She then lunged at the officer, aiming for his head and neck in her home in Middlesbrough.
Peter Sabiston, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said: ‘In short, Lisa Timney leaves the lounge to go to the kitchen, returning with a knife hidden behind her back.
‘She looked at him with real intent in her face. He said she became a different person, calling him names and swearing at him. The officer managed to block her and restrain her on the sofa.’
PC Woodland said he knew the victim was disabled and vulnerable and had treated her with that in mind.
The court heard he continued to remain ‘calm and professional’ despite the imminent danger he was facing.
Mr Sabiston said: ‘He was very sympathetic towards Ms Timney and was more than a little surprised in her change in demeanour.’
Timney had also kicked other officers and the footage shows her at the police station where she continued to hurl abuse.
The court heard how PC Woodland – an officer for 15 years – had since been referred for trauma therapy and suffered flashbacks to the frightening ordeal.
The Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, Richard Lewis provided a statement to the court, expressing his concerns about the effects such attacks have on the force in general.
The Cleveland Police officer heard ‘clanking from the cutlery drawer’ and saw Timney walking towards him with a 12-inch kitchen knife partially behind her back
Assaults on Cleveland Police officers rose from 41 in March to 61 by May – an increase of 75 per cent compared to 2019.
The force said some of the assaults have left officers physically injured and not able to carry out their duties.
Timney herself has a history of assaults against police officers with attacks and threats made in 2018, 2013, and 2005.
She pleaded guilty to attempting to commit grievous bodily harm with intent over the attack on PC Woodland.
Rod Hunt, defending, said she had mental health issues and was ‘appalled’ by her behaviour in the July 10 offence.
She had been drinking and had little recollection of the incident, he said.
He added: ‘She had been coping with her illness until the lockdown and the break-up in society affected her quite badly as she wasn’t able to access treatment she had been obtaining.’
She then lunged at the officer, aiming for his head and neck in her home in Middlesbrough
Judge Howard Crowson commended PC Woodland’s ‘excellence’ during the incident, noting his ‘swift action prevented serious harm’.
Addressing Timney, he said: ‘He originally came to support you, you were being supported as a victim and yet, whilst that seemed to be going well, your character changed and that must have been to a large degree because of the amount of alcohol you had consumed.
‘It must have been very frightening for PC Woodland.’
Judge Crowson also added that incidents of violence against police officers occurred ‘far too often’.
A judge jailed Timney for two years and eight months and ordered her to pay a surcharge of £190
‘I must also make clear that this was not an isolated example of the brave and selfless behaviour from our police officers and indeed those from other forces,’ he said.
He jailed Timney for two years and eight months and ordered her to pay a surcharge of £190.
Speaking after the case, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Graham, from Cleveland Police, said: ‘We welcome the sentence today handed to Lisa Timney, who kicked two police officers and attempted to seriously injure another with a knife.
‘It is entirely unacceptable and we won’t tolerate it. It is unthinkable what could have happened here, and emergency service workers shouldn’t have to put up with being assaulted when they put their lives on the line to protect others.’