A man who snapped the finger of a police officer has escaped a prison sentence.
James Richard Stinchcombe was found guilty of assaulting PC Steven Lax, and his colleague PC Stephen Johnson, at his trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 25 July.
Appearing at the same court for sentencing this morning (22 August), the 38-year-old begged District Judge Joanna Dickens for any sentence that meant he would avoid a jail term.
Prosecutor Tom Power said that the defendant was pulled over by police while driving in Chippenham on 15 May 2021. He became confrontational towards officers and they arrested him.
After he was forcibly taken to the ground, a violent struggle resulted in PC Lax snapping his little finger. On attending the hospital, he was confirmed to have fractured the bone.
“It’s not the most serious assault, but officers don’t go out on patrol to have their fingers broken”, Mr Power told the court.
He added that Stinchcombe has numerous previous convictions, including a notable suspended prison sentence for criminal damage in 2016.
Representing himself in court, the self-employed civil engineer, of Kington Lane, Stanton St Quintin, Chippenham, accepted the judge’s suggestion of unpaid work as part of his sentence, stating: “I’ll take anything if it keeps me out of prison”.
Judge Dickens went on to say that assaults on police officers are “very, very serious”.
Adding: “Most people, like you and I, do not go to work and get assaulted, but really tragically police officers risk being assaulted every day.
“They are human beings. Some people don’t like what they’re doing, but they’re working for the benefit of our community.
“If we keep doing this to police officers we won’t have any, we won’t. It is absolutely unacceptable and you’ve got to stop it.
“A broken finger is debilitating and it’s going to have had an effect on that officer’s life.”
She handed down an 18-month community order with the requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £300 in compensation to PC Lax.
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