A knife-wielding thug who stabbed a female police officer in the face in a brutal attack, likened to something from a Scream horror movie, has been jailed for five years. Declan Diedrick, 25, attacked officers, including PC Hollie Matthews, after they tried to get him to put down a seven-inch serrated kitchen knife. Officers were attacked after initially being called to concerns for Diedrick’s mental health in Harlow, Essex.  A member of the public also helped restrain Diedrick, who was handcuffed within 60 seconds of his brutal attack on December 29, 2023.

At Chelmsford Crown Court in October, he was convicted of assault causing grievous bodily harm by a jury after admitting wounding without intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Today, he was sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional three years on licence.

Injured officer PC Matthews, in a statement provided to the court, said: “Policing is made up of real people, with families, with friends and with a life. I know I speak for myself and many others when I say I joined the police to be part of something that helps, something that supports, someone who runs towards the danger when everyone else runs away. This incident is one I have thought about every day, often for hours on end, over and over.

“In moments like this in this job, you don’t consider yourself to be anything other than a police officer – you do what is right, and for me, that was stopping him from harming himself or others.

“However, the reality is under my uniform I am a person, a person with feelings, a person who is a human being, a person who is now a victim.

“The police are who you call in the worst moments of your life, yet I have been called to one of the worst of mine.”

Det Supt Dan Morrissey said: “The determination and violence Diedrick showed that night was truly horrifying.

“One of the officers attacked described the Diedrick’s actions as like something from a Scream film – that is not something any officer should have to expect when responding to a call for help.

“He specifically targeted officers, not the members of the public also trying to stop him.

“The officers that responded that night are examples of the incredible bravery of all our officers trying to do the best for the people they serve, putting others first and putting themselves in harm’s way.”

Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington added: “Thankfully, incidents like this are quite rare but it is an example of the lengths my officers will go to keep you safe and protect the public from those who pose them a danger.”

Superintendent Tony Atkin added, “Diedrick had a clear intent and determination to harm those officers, and the violence he showed that night was truly horrifying. The first two officers on the scene were subject to a savage attack, with one sustaining a serious stab wound to the face.

“Despite everything those officers went through, they remain in frontline policing duties and continue to help the people of Harlow.

“All too frequently our officers face violence and it is never acceptable to assume assaults on police officers are just ‘part of the job’.

“Police officers are members of the community, and an attack on one of our officers is an attack on our community and will not be tolerated.”

Policing is often tough, with officers regularly in very challenging situations. These incidents not only directly affect the officers, but their family and friends too.