Police officer's handcuffs save his life when he's stabbed while arresting thug

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Thomas McComish was left with facial injuries and taken to hospital after attacking two police officers with a knife (Image: Merseyside Police)
Thomas McComish was left with facial injuries and taken to hospital after attacking two police officers with a knife (Image: Merseyside Police)

A police officer's handcuffs saved his life when a drunken thug tried to stab him with a carving knife.

PC John Rimmer was left "pale and in shock" after Thomas McComish, 34, tried to stab him twice.

But his ferocious blows were miraculously blocked by the positioning of his handcuffs meaning the blade did not pierce the officer's skin.

PC Rimmer had been trying to protect fellow officer PC Ian Hide who "believed he was about to be seriously attacked and possibly killed" by McComish.

Both officers survived the attack but were left with severe physical and mental injuries, reports The Echo.

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The nightmare incident began in a bus stop in St Helens where McComish approached a man and a woman at around 9.30pm on December 5.

He walked up to the pair shouting "you daft b****" which they initially ignored but then noticed he was carrying a knife.

Police officer's handcuffs save his life when he's stabbed while arresting thugMcComish's ferocious blows were blocked by his handcuffs (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Fearing they would be attacked, they ran away but McComish chased them into a nearby car park.

There, the pair spotted two police cars and alerted officers to the incident.

PC Hide found McComish brandishing the knife and shouted for him to drop the weapon.

But the brute responded by throwing a bottle towards him.

McComish then lunged at the officer who tripped over a kerb and fell during a scuffle.

He thought he was going to be seriously attacked and possibly killed, as McComish "towered over him."

But PC Rimmer came to his aid and "felt a force" on the left-hand side of his torso as McComish swiped at him with the knife.

One officer involved in the incident said he "could not believe he had survived" the terrifying assault.

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Police officer's handcuffs save his life when he's stabbed while arresting thugOne officer said he couldn't believe the PC survived the assault (Getty Images/fStop)

PC Hide suffered a broken left wrist during the incident, with the ex-army engineer left on desk duties and unable to play with his young child or perform simple tasks such as turning door handles or opening jars.

A statement read out to the court on his behalf said: "I don't feel like the confident, robust individual I was prior to the events of that night.

"It was a job that, as a police officer, you pray you never have to go to. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.

"I can't believe I survived. There remains a large piece of me missing."

PC Hide described suffering a panic attack while out for a meal with his wife and baby a few days later and having to leave the restaurant.

This was triggered by him picking up a glass bottle for the first time since the incident, with the officer adding "the last bottle I had held was when I had to fight for my life."

He also avoids using large knives when cooking and described the assault as "life changing".

PC Hide said he "felt guilty" for involving his fellow officer, saying "what if they had been stabbed or killed?"

He added: "Who is he to think he has the right to try and harm me and innocent members of the public minding their own business?

"Nothing will ever taken away what happened, I am certain that. In the absence of the police, the defendant would have at least stabbed a member of the public."

PC Rimmer was left unable to work for three weeks and suffered from insomnia and flashbacks.

In his statement, the officer said: "I became a shadow of myself."

McComish, who also served in the forces for five years before leaving on medical grounds, was taken to Aintree Hospital.

It was said he "smelled strongly of alcohol" and was suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

He sustained a broken nose and a fractured eye socket from the scuffle, which will leave his eyesight permanently damaged.

He continued to behave "aggressively" towards paramedics in the ambulance en route, then told hospital staff "if you do that to me you will lose some teeth."

His five previous convictions for six offences include charges of possession of indecent images, drunk and disorderly behaviour, possession of cannabis and travelling on a railway without paying a fare.

Christopher Stables, defending, told the court: "There is frank acceptance on the part of the defendant that this is an extremely serious case.

"On any view, it was a frightening and potentially dangerous incident. The commission of this offence is out of character for this defendant.

"The incident occurred while the defendant was very highly intoxicated, such that he has no recollection of the incident or the lead up to the incident at all.

"The fact he was heavily intoxicated can never excuse what occurred, but it may help to understand why this occurred and why the defendant behaved in a manner he has never behaved before.

"Thankfully, no serious injury resulted from this incident. The defendant himself suffered really quite serious injury.

"He was struck repeatedly during the incident, with no criticism intended. Nobody is suggesting that the police behaved unlawfully or out of proportion.

"He has never before received a custodial sentence. The defendant is very down and resigned to his fate, and presents as a rather flat individual.

"Plainly, he reacted badly to his daughter being taken into care. That led him to go out and drink heavily and to excess on that night, which led to this incident."

McComish admitted two counts of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm during an earlier hearing.

Appearing via video link at HMP Altcourse wearing a grey jumper and glasses, he was jailed for seven years and nine months and handed an additional four years on licence.

Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "That incident must have been utterly terrifying for these officers and utterly terrifying for members of the public who witnessed what you were doing. It goes without saying how dangerous your behaviour was.

"It is more by fortune and the resilience of the officers that you did not complete the offence intended.

"You used serious, persistent violence towards two police officers, who were putting their lives at risk."

Following the sentencing, deputy chief constable Ian Critchley said: "Merseyside Police officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public from harm every day and understand the risks their role carries.

"They go into dangerous situations involving violent and aggressive offenders day in, day out because they are committed to protecting the people of Merseyside."

Laura Sharman

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