Four-month detention for teen who stabbed police dog and handler

A teenager who stabbed a police officer and his dog with a 12-inch hunting knife will spend just four months in detention. Both PC Dave Wardell and police dog Finn needed surgery after being attacked by the 16-year-old suspect last October. The event sparked a national campaign to create a new offence so people who attack police animals can be charged with more serious crimes than criminal damage. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and imitation firearm, causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage in May. On Tuesday (June 6), he was sentenced to an eight-month detention training order at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, half of which will be spent in the community. He also received a two-year behaviour order, a £300 fine and a £30 victim surcharge. Responding to the sentence, PC Wardell said: “Nothing can take away what happened to Finn, me and of course my family that night. “Had Finn not been there protecting me, had he not been as good at his job as he is, I would not be here today, and you would have heard about another murdered police officer.” He added: “You know my thoughts on one of the charges brought against the offender. I’ll let you decide whether the sentence matches the offence. “But understand this, it wasn’t a small knife. He didn’t wave it at us to try to make us scared or threaten us with it before attacking us, or try and deter us from following him.” Eight-year-old Finn received emergency surgery after the attack to stop air leaking from his punctured lungs. PC Wardell was stabbed in the hand but was not seriously injured. The dog returned to work with Hertfordshire Constabulary in December before retiring in March this year. The campaign, dubbed ‘Finn’s Law’, continues. Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “I am glad we can all now start the process of putting the distressing events of last October, where PC Dave Wardell and now retired police dog Finn were stabbed, behind us. “Whilst thankfully they both made a fantastic recovery, where we saw Finn return to the front line prior to his retirement, the seriousness of this incident should not be underestimated. “It should serve as yet another reminder of the very real dangers frontline officers and police dogs face every day. “It should also send out a strong message to those who might consider carrying knives – we do not tolerate knife crime in Hertfordshire.” Hertfordshire Police Federation refused to comment on the outcome.