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| Talbot Green police station attacker jailed for attempted murder | Talbot Green police station attacker jailed for attempted murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bodycam footage shows the moment police use a Taser on Dighton as he attacked the police station | Bodycam footage shows the moment police use a Taser on Dighton as he attacked the police station |
| A man who tried to murder a police officer while armed with Molotov cocktails has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. | A man who tried to murder a police officer while armed with Molotov cocktails has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. |
| Alexander Dighton, 28 from Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was wearing body armour when he carried out the attack outside Talbot Green police station in January. | Alexander Dighton, 28 from Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was wearing body armour when he carried out the attack outside Talbot Green police station in January. |
| Counter terror police said Dighton was interviewed by officers a year before the attack, but was believed not to be a threat. | Counter terror police said Dighton was interviewed by officers a year before the attack, but was believed not to be a threat. |
| Dighton injured several officers and admitted trying to murder a police officer with a knife and was sentenced at the Old Bailey in London. | Dighton injured several officers and admitted trying to murder a police officer with a knife and was sentenced at the Old Bailey in London. |
| Due to the time Dighton spent on remand he will spend a minimum term of 21 years and 235 days before he can be considered for parole. | Due to the time Dighton spent on remand he will spend a minimum term of 21 years and 235 days before he can be considered for parole. |
| The court heard he was also made subject of terrorist notification requirements for 30 years. | The court heard he was also made subject of terrorist notification requirements for 30 years. |
| Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the crimes committed by Dighton "satisfies all the offences have terrorist connections." | Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the crimes committed by Dighton "satisfies all the offences have terrorist connections." |
| "You targeted the police as a keystone of government power," he added. | "You targeted the police as a keystone of government power," he added. |
| He added Dighton had wanted to make a statement that the government had failed in its duties to uphold law and order and his attack had involved "significant planning" with the intent of "serious violence". | He added Dighton had wanted to make a statement that the government had failed in its duties to uphold law and order and his attack had involved "significant planning" with the intent of "serious violence". |
| "I note your online activity shows increasing fixation on issues like diversity, paedophilia, immigration, anti-Islamic sentiment and dissatisfaction with the British government," he added. | "I note your online activity shows increasing fixation on issues like diversity, paedophilia, immigration, anti-Islamic sentiment and dissatisfaction with the British government," he added. |
| Frank Ferguson, head of CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said: "By his own admission he wanted to take the life of a police officer, to cause damage and spill blood." | Frank Ferguson, head of CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said: "By his own admission he wanted to take the life of a police officer, to cause damage and spill blood." |
| Alexander Dighton was sentenced after admitting trying to murder a police officer | Alexander Dighton was sentenced after admitting trying to murder a police officer |
| Dighton arrived at Talbot Green police station in January armed with a hatchet, a pole and Molotov cocktails. | Dighton arrived at Talbot Green police station in January armed with a hatchet, a pole and Molotov cocktails. |
| Brandishing his weapons, he told PC Stephanie Fleming, who confronted him: "I'm fed up, I'm done." | Brandishing his weapons, he told PC Stephanie Fleming, who confronted him: "I'm fed up, I'm done." |
| Dighton threw one Molotov cocktail at a police van, but it failed to ignite, so he poured petrol onto another and set it alight. | Dighton threw one Molotov cocktail at a police van, but it failed to ignite, so he poured petrol onto another and set it alight. |
| He then used a long wooden pole to smash the van's windows. | He then used a long wooden pole to smash the van's windows. |
| Dighton was tasered and sprayed with Pava spray, but it had no effect. | Dighton was tasered and sprayed with Pava spray, but it had no effect. |
| He attacked Sgt Richard Coleman in the station foyer, hitting him in the head with the pole, and then punched Det Con Joshua Emlyn. | He attacked Sgt Richard Coleman in the station foyer, hitting him in the head with the pole, and then punched Det Con Joshua Emlyn. |
| At this point three police officers attempted to restrain Dighton, and he stabbed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg, wounding him. | At this point three police officers attempted to restrain Dighton, and he stabbed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg, wounding him. |
| Dighton represented himself in court at a previous hearing and admitted attempted murder with a knife, attempted arson, attacking two other police officers, and threatening a third - pleading guilty to a total of 10 charges. | |
| Two officers were treated in hospital for their injuries. | Two officers were treated in hospital for their injuries. |
| The judge told the Old Bailey on Friday the officers were in a state of shock and some thought they were going to die. | The judge told the Old Bailey on Friday the officers were in a state of shock and some thought they were going to die. |
| Ch Supt Stephen Jones, from South Wales Police said the attack highlights the "perils" officers face | Ch Supt Stephen Jones, from South Wales Police said the attack highlights the "perils" officers face |
| Before sentencing, Ch Supt Stephen Jones, of South Wales Police, said the officers were doing "remarkably well", but said it has had a "profound impact" on their families. | Before sentencing, Ch Supt Stephen Jones, of South Wales Police, said the officers were doing "remarkably well", but said it has had a "profound impact" on their families. |
| "Ultimately officers are public servants, but they're also fathers, mothers, wives and husbands and sons and daughters, and the impact on their families has been really heartfelt," he said. | "Ultimately officers are public servants, but they're also fathers, mothers, wives and husbands and sons and daughters, and the impact on their families has been really heartfelt," he said. |
| "We face these perils, and quite often unexpectedly", he said. | "We face these perils, and quite often unexpectedly", he said. |
| He said the officers had to respond to a "committed, lone individual who was exceptionally aggressive". | He said the officers had to respond to a "committed, lone individual who was exceptionally aggressive". |
| After, Ch Supt Jones insisted Talbot Green remained a "very safe and quiet area" but acknowledged it had experienced two separate major incidents within a few weeks of each other. | After, Ch Supt Jones insisted Talbot Green remained a "very safe and quiet area" but acknowledged it had experienced two separate major incidents within a few weeks of each other. |
| "We have increased patrols and increased the number of officers working out of Talbot Green to protect the community," he added. | "We have increased patrols and increased the number of officers working out of Talbot Green to protect the community," he added. |
| At a previous court hearing Dighton told the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb: "Authority is not my problem - but the use of authority that I have seen since I was 15, that is my problem." | At a previous court hearing Dighton told the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb: "Authority is not my problem - but the use of authority that I have seen since I was 15, that is my problem." |
| Dighton was motivated by anti-government ideology, and when he was arrested he said: "I've been damned from birth." | Dighton was motivated by anti-government ideology, and when he was arrested he said: "I've been damned from birth." |
| Police believe Dighton began planning his attack a month before the incident. | Police believe Dighton began planning his attack a month before the incident. |
| When his home in Pontyclun, was searched journals containing anti-immigrant ideologies and a return to "traditional" society were found. | When his home in Pontyclun, was searched journals containing anti-immigrant ideologies and a return to "traditional" society were found. |
| Det Supt Andrew Williams from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales believes the initial assessment of Dighton was correct | Det Supt Andrew Williams from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales believes the initial assessment of Dighton was correct |
| Dighton was already known to counter-terrorism police in Wales, he was interviewed by officers a year before the attack. | Dighton was already known to counter-terrorism police in Wales, he was interviewed by officers a year before the attack. |
| He was referred to the Prevent, a counter extremism programme in January 2024, by his sister where officers carried out a three week "detailed assessment" of Dighton. | He was referred to the Prevent, a counter extremism programme in January 2024, by his sister where officers carried out a three week "detailed assessment" of Dighton. |
| Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn said she had stated he was "vulnerable as he has gone missing previously and has attempted suicide." | Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn said she had stated he was "vulnerable as he has gone missing previously and has attempted suicide." |
| Det Supt Andrew Williams of Counter Terrorism Policing Wales said: "He was referred to us following concerns around his anti-immigration stance, his anti-Islam stance and his general racist views." | Det Supt Andrew Williams of Counter Terrorism Policing Wales said: "He was referred to us following concerns around his anti-immigration stance, his anti-Islam stance and his general racist views." |
| He said Dighton was interviewed "at length" and "due-diligence checks" were carried out to make sure officers "knew about him and his history". | He said Dighton was interviewed "at length" and "due-diligence checks" were carried out to make sure officers "knew about him and his history". |
| He said Dighton "did not fit the criteria" to be included on the Prevent programme. | He said Dighton "did not fit the criteria" to be included on the Prevent programme. |
| "There was no information at all from that assessment or from that referral that would give any indication whatsoever that Alexander Dighton would go on, a year later, to commit an attack of this nature," Det Supt Williams said. | "There was no information at all from that assessment or from that referral that would give any indication whatsoever that Alexander Dighton would go on, a year later, to commit an attack of this nature," Det Supt Williams said. |
| He said he believed the initial assessment of Dighton was correct. | He said he believed the initial assessment of Dighton was correct. |
| "I am very confident in the assessment and skills of those officers and support them completely in the decisions they undertook," he said. | "I am very confident in the assessment and skills of those officers and support them completely in the decisions they undertook," he said. |
| Asked if he was satisfied Dighton was de-radicalised, or did not present a threat, Det Supt Williams said: "I am happy that's the case, yes." | Asked if he was satisfied Dighton was de-radicalised, or did not present a threat, Det Supt Williams said: "I am happy that's the case, yes." |
| Dighton previously pleaded guilty to attempted arson and attempting to murder Det Con Jack Cotton. | Dighton previously pleaded guilty to attempted arson and attempting to murder Det Con Jack Cotton. |
| He also admitted assaulting Sgt Richard Coleman, threatening PC Stephanie Fleming, assaulting Det Con Joshua Emlyn, having an adapted wooden pole as a weapon, having a knife, having a hatchet, damaging a police van, and damaging a second police van. | He also admitted assaulting Sgt Richard Coleman, threatening PC Stephanie Fleming, assaulting Det Con Joshua Emlyn, having an adapted wooden pole as a weapon, having a knife, having a hatchet, damaging a police van, and damaging a second police van. |