Three 'courageous' police officers attended a regular vehicle stop after spotting a moped being 'driven erratically'... but 'no one could have prepared them for how their day would end'.
Neighbourhood Sergeants Marc Foster and Tim Ansell, along with PC Marcus Wolstencroft from Greater Manchester Police, attended the incident on Wood Road, on the border of Stretford and Whalley Range on July 26 last year.
The trio had attempted to bring the driver of a moped to a stop before the bike was later involved in a collision with a car.
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But while two of the officers were responding to the crash, in which an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, another man, Jacob Brown, suddenly approached them and viciously attacked them with a knife in the street.
PS Foster and Ansell were in attendance speaking to those involved in the crash when Brown approached PS Foster from behind and violently attacked him with a knife.
As PS Foster struggled to defend himself, PS Ansell then came to his defence. However, once PS Foster had been pushed aside, Brown next came for PS Ansell, stabbing repeatedly at his neck. At this point, PC Wolstencroft stepped in using his taser for Brown to be restrained and detained.
This gave PS Foster the time to give lifesaving aid to PS Ansell who had received a stab wound to the neck. PS Foster received slash wounds to the neck and arms and PS Ansell suffered two open wounds to his neck, one of which required a vein to be cauterised and stitched, along with further slash wounds to his arms and body.
All three officers involved have now been nominated in the National Police Bravery Awards 2024.
In April, knifeman Jacob Brown, 27, of Wood Road, Whalley Range was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order until he is deemed safe and stable for release, for one count of attempted murder and three counts of wounding with intent.
Brown had been carrying a blue handled craft knife when a crash between a moped and a Seat car took place around 100 yards from his home. He then 'took them by surprise' and launched the 'ferocious' attack on the officers.
After pleading guilty, and while on remand at HMP Liverpool in August last year, Brown, who has paranoid schizophrenia, then launched an attack on a prison advisor by stabbing him with a pen repeatedly. And, in September, while on video link from prison, he used a modified piece of prison cutlery to stab a prison guard in front of a shocked courtroom.
All three police officers involved in the July 26 attack were previously presented with bravery awards at the Chief Constable’s Annual Awards in October 2023. And, in April, they were also given the John Egerton Bravery Award by GMP’s Police Federation.
Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said: “Police officers find themselves in challenging or compromising situations daily as it is their role to serve and protect the public. This particular day, these officers came into work as they do every day to continue in their duties, but no one could have prepared them for how their day would end.
“The officers attended, on the face of it, a straightforward vehicle stop to assist colleagues. Without warning this turned from something quite innocent into a serious life-threatening situation for all involved and resulted in officers being injured and hospitalised.
“The heroic actions of these officers prevented this incident from developing any further, and very quickly the suspect was apprehended, preventing any members of the public being caught up and/or injured. They were professional, brave and are a real credit to the organisation. We are all exceptionally proud.”
Chair of Greater Manchester Police Federation, Mike Peake, said: “Sergeant Marc Foster, Sergeant Tim Ansell, and PC Marcus Wolstencroft, when carrying out their duties, should never expect to be so viciously attacked. This is sadly yet another example of the current dangers police officers encounter daily.
“Whilst defending themselves from a vicious and unprovoked knife attack, all three officers displayed incredible bravery, putting their lives at risk to detain an extremely dangerous offender. They all deserve full recognition for their professionalism and bravery. They are true heroes, and given the nature of the attack, if it wasn’t for their quick reactions working as a team, it is a miracle they are here today.
“After the attacker pleaded guilty at court for attempted murder, it is quite clear his sole intention was to kill a police officer in uniform as they patrolled the streets whilst keeping the community safe.”
