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A man has been jailed after he viciously bit down on an officer's finger in a bid to avoid arrest.
Liam Byron, who had been sleeping rough in Welling, was sentenced to two years and 28 days’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty at the same court at an earlier hearing to escape from lawful custody and causing grievous bodily harm with the intent to resist arrest.
PC James Robinson was patrolling Bexleyheath station with a special constable on Sunday, February 2 when he noticed Byron drop a bag and get onto a train.
The officers searched the bag and found several handbags inside which they suspected to be stolen and which a store in the shopping centre later confirmed to be the case.
They attempted to trace Byron who was spotted by PC Robinson boarding a train at Welling station with another man which the officer radioed to a colleague.
When the train pulled into Eltham Station, he believed the suspect had left the train and jumped a fence.
He entered the carriage where Byron had been to see if anything had been left behind and found Byron sat with the other man.
PC Robinson arrested Byron on suspicion of theft but he attempted to resist being placed in handcuffs, saying "not today mate".
He managed to free one hand and waved the handcuffs around as a weapon, hitting the policeman in the head.
A struggle then took place between the pair during which Byron bit down on the officer's finger in a sustained attack.
In a statement read to the court, PC Robinson said: “I felt Byron increasing the pressure on my finger with his teeth, and I believe that he was fully intending to sever it.”
However, despite the serious injuries sustained, PC Robinson continued to restrain Byron who was still biting down on his finger.
When the train stopped at Kidbrooke Station, he released the officer's finger and fled the train with the other man.
PC Robinson chased after them but they managed to escape.
Two days later officers from an emergency response team in Bexleyheath carried out local enquiries and found Byron sleeping rough in Welling town centre.
Upon his arrest, he was smirking and giggling and was booked into custody at a local police station where he turned to the arresting officer and said: “You know I can kick off if I want to you ask James Robinson about it.”
Detectives tried to interview Byron several times, but he refused and was subsequently charged with theft, escaping from lawful custody and grievous bodily harm (wounding with intent to resist arrest).
He was convicted and sentenced.
“You know I can kick off if I want to you ask James Robinson about it.”
PC Robinson suffered from several puncture wounds to his finger, which has caused permanent scarring and temporary nerve damage.
However, despite the injuries he suffered, PC Robinson was back at work in a restricted capacity the very next day and has since made a full recovery.
The officer, who has been serving the force for six and a half years, said he had never been victim to such a serious assault.
He said: “I appreciate that as a police officer I sometimes have to put myself in harm’s way, however I did not go to work that day expecting someone to try and bite my finger off in such a vicious attack.
"The physical scars and nerve damage are one thing, but what is even worse is the uncertainty of whether I have contracted anything from the bite.
"Fortunately I don’t think I have, but I’ll not know for sure until August when my tests have concluded."
PC Robinson thanked his colleagues in securing his arrest and conviction, adding “I am happy with the sentence Byron has been given, and I feel this sends a clear message that violence against police officers will not be tolerated”.
