A POLICE chief has questioned a seven month sentence handed to a Bradford drug addict who assaulted three police officers and put them at risk of hepatitis and coronavirus.

West Yorkshire Police Federation's Brian Booth spoke out today and expressed his continued campaign for minimum mandatory sentences as part of the Protect The Protectors campaign.

Richard White, 50, had 70 previous convictions for 133 offences and this was his third set of convictions for assaulting police officers, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

White, of Chapel Terrace, Thornton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to assaulting three police officers as emergency workers on March 11 and criminal damage to a police cell.

The officers were attacked when they were arresting White at the scene of a disturbance in Bradford with the assaults ranging from being spat at, kicked and called abusive slurs such as ‘slag’.

Once in his police cell, White covered himself in his faeces as well as taunting officers and hurling it at them.

Speaking today, Mr Booth described the sentence as “meagre” and questioned why his “extensive criminal record and a history of violence against police officers” did not impact the length more seriously.

Mr Booth told the Telegraph & Argus: “An appalling attack on my colleagues which deserved a heavier sentence than 7 months imprisonment. White has an extensive criminal record and a history of violence against Police Officers, how can it be right that he risks the health of my colleagues by committing such filthy acts and is allowed a meagre prison sentence?  

“Taking into account the threat of Covid or Hepatitis, this individual is a serious threat to public health and should have been sentenced accordingly.  Whilst the courts continue to be lenient to such individuals, the Police Federation will continue to campaign for minimum mandatory sentences to Protect the Protectors.”

Bradford District Commander, Chief Superintendent Alisa Newman, said this particular case had been “horrendous and distressing” for the officers involved.

Ch Supt Newman said: “Assaulting an emergency service workers is totally unacceptable. Police officers and staff undertake extremely challenging jobs across some of the busiest and complex areas in Bradford, providing a public service in sometimes in dangerous and difficult situations, so they deserve protection. Police Officers and staff are there to keep our communities safe and there is no excuse for violence against them. 

“This was a particularly horrendous and distressing situation for these officers and we ensured that the officers involved in this case received help and support they needed following on from the incident.”

MP Philip Davies (Shipley, Conservative), who regularly campaigns for tougher sentences and consequences for those who assault emergency workers, branded the sentence “utterly derisory”.

This July, Mr Davies tabled amendments to the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill in early 2018 urging Government to increase the sentence to two years, effectively doubling the sentence.

Reacting to White’s sentence, Mr Davies said: “This sentence for such outrageous and disgusting behaviour – particularly given the perpetrator’s long record as a persistent offender – is utterly derisory.  Someone sentenced to 7 months in prison will be out in 3 months.  

“That is completely unacceptable and this case is a prime example why I continue to press for tougher sentences for people who attack our emergency workers.  They deserve far better protection than the law currently does, and we must have sentences which reflect the seriousness of the offence.”