Torfaen man sentenced for the brutal attack of PC Nathan Attwell.
A violent man has today (Tuesday 1 April) been sentenced to six years and four months imprisonment with an extended license of three years for a frenzied attack on an officer in broad daylight, leaving him hospitalised.
PC Nathan Attwell was on his usual response shift in Torfaen when he was assaulted on duty.
Nathan was responding to a report of a disturbance in Cwmbran on Friday 20 December, when he saw Richard Nodwell, who matched the description of a man officers wanted to speak to in connection with the disturbance.
Nathan approached him, and after speaking briefly, Nodwell launched an attack.
The attack, consisting of punches and kicks, lasted 50 seconds, and left Nathan with a fractured eye socket, broken cheek bone and broken nose.
After the assault, Nodwell ran, leaving Nathan on the floor injured. Officers quickly found Nodwell hiding nearby, and he further assaulted two police officers, spitting at one and biting the other.
He was immediately arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. He was later charged for these offences and plead guilty at Cardiff Crown Court on 20 January.
We recently caught up with Nathan and he said:
“When you join the police service, there’s a stigma that sometimes you’ve got to put up with abuse, whether that be shouting, swearing, spitting, or kicking.
“However, no one goes to work to be assaulted, especially when they are just trying to help someone. The night of the assault I was afraid to go to sleep in case I didn’t wake up.
“Why is it, that people like Nodwell feel it’s ok to assault police officers and expect no consequences for doing so?”
Chief Constable Mark Hobrough of Gwent Police said:
“I would like to commend Nathan for bravely speaking out about this awful attack which has significantly affected him, his family, the wider community, and all of us at Gwent Police.
“Our officers, Nathan included, are more than their uniform – they are members of our community, they are parents, siblings, and friends, who love and are loved.
“They come to work to make a difference and will be there during your time of need. Just like you wouldn’t expect to be assaulted while carrying out your job, they shouldn’t either.
“Regardless of what you think of the police, our officers will put themselves between you and danger, without hesitation.
“Too often I see the devastating impact these assaults have on police officers and other emergency workers.
“Nodwell will now be behind bars for a significant amount of time, he is a dangerous man with prior convictions, and I am glad he is no longer living in our community.
“Let this be a lesson to those who may think it is ok to assault emergency workers, we will take action and you will be held accountable.”
Nathan is doing well in his recovery.
