Men jailed after "life-threatening" attack on police officer

Dale Francis Cheetham (22) and Peter White (25) appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (Friday 13).

Cheetham, of no fixed address, admitted attacking the officer after crashing the Fiat Punto, which he stole in Bolton-on-Dearne last September 19.

He was sent to prison for 14-and-a-half years for robbery, possession of a bladed article, actual bodily harm, driving while disqualified, wounding to resist arrest and use of an offensive weapon.

White — also known as Peter Manning — of Low Road in Conisbrough, was in the car with Cheetham. He was jailed for 18 months for assault.

At around 5.30am on Tuesday,  September 19, 2017, Cheetham stole the car on Heath Grove after threatening the driver with a knife.

Police caught up with him two hours later, after Doncaster Council caught the two suspects on CCTV attacking another man, after pulling up in the stolen car.

Afterwards, both men got into the Fiat and drove off. Shortly afterwards, they were spotted by a police officer in an unmarked car.

The Fiat crashed into a metal barrier and the suspects tried to flee. A police sergeant chased them down an alley, where Cheetham repeatedly struck him on the head.

He tried to take the officer’s baton, before taking his cuffs and using them to beat the officer on the head.

Chief Supt Shaun Morley called the incident “an unprovoked, sustained and horrific attack against one of our own”.

He added: “There is no doubt that he intended to cause our officer serious harm and his injuries could have been far more severe.

“Indeed, for a short time immediately after the attack, the injuries were deemed to be life-threatening.

“This was a truly horrifying assault and the impact of that morning on our policing family will be felt for some time.

“I am grateful to everyone who has offered their well-wishes and support throughout the criminal investigation."