Police dog and handler praised for bravery as teenaged knife attacker found guilty

A teenager has been found guilty of stabbing an officer and a police dog in a case that sparked a national campaign to better protect law enforcement animals. The 16-year-old appeared at Stevenage Crown Court on Thursday (May 11), seven months after attacking Police Constable Dave Wardell and PD Finn during an armed pursuit. PC Wardell, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, was stabbed with a 12-inch hunting knife while PD Finn helped detain the suspect despite sustaining serious injuries. The attack led to a Parliamentary debate on increasing sentencing for attacking police animals, resulting in new sentencing guidelines published earlier this year. The teenager was found guilty of assaulting a police officer and criminal damage. He is due to be sentenced on June 6. PC Wardell said: “I am very grateful to Finn for his response and bravery in a very dangerous situation where the suspect had a knife in his possession. “This was a harrowing ordeal for both of us and I cannot thank the public and my police colleagues enough for their support during this difficult time.” Finn, now aged eight, returned to work with PC Wardell in December after passing the police dog licence assessments. He retired from active service in March. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, told the court that he had acted in self-defence out of fear of being bitten. However, Judge Jo Matson described this claim as “not credible or truthful”. Police and crime commissioner David Lloyd said: “I’d like to acknowledge the bravery of both PC Wardell and Finn, who put the pursuit of a suspect above their well-being and were both injured in the process. “The support that they have both received from the public, MPs and dog lovers around the world has been incredible. “The chief constable and I will be recommending Finn for the most prestigious award for dogs on behalf of the people of Hertfordshire, who thank them both for their hard work and dedication.” Chief Constable Charlie Hall added that this incident should serve as another reminder of “the dangers frontline officers and police dogs face every day”. “I am grateful to them and the officers and staff who successfully brought the perpetrator to justice,” he said.