Peterborough man jailed for assaulting a police officer

Nadia GyaneBBC News, Peterborough
News imageCambridgeshire Police mug shot of manCambridgeshire Police
Nadir Bugtti is sentenced to two years and ten months in jail

A drug dealer who seriously assaulted a police officer has been jailed.

Nadir Bugtti, 32, broke PC Sam Darling's nose and eye socket in an attempt to escape arrest in Peterborough.

Bugtti was stopped in an uninsured car on 14 January and found to be in possession of cannabis.

He admitted grievous bodily harm, escaping police custody, possession with intent to supply class B drugs and possession of class A drugs.

Bugtti, of Swale Avenue, Peterborough,was arrested but while waiting to be put into a police van, he broke free and tried to escape, Cambridge Crown Court heard

News imageCambridgeshire Police Pc Sam DarlingCambridgeshire Police
PC Darling was treated at Peterborough Hospital for his injuries

In doing so, he jumped on to PC Darling, knocking him to the ground.

Buggti fled but police caught him and took him into custody.

A search revealed he was carrying cannabis and cocaine and his phone was found to contain evidence of drug dealing.

The court heard that Bugtti had a history of poor mental health which became "unmanageable" after the death of a close friend and was struggling with a cocaine addiction.

He was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court to two years and 10 months in prison.

The court heard that due to his injuries, PC Darling missed opportunities to progress in his career.

In a victim personal statement to court, he said: "I do not come to work to be assaulted. This incident has made me second think the job as I know it."

After the hearing, Det Con Rhiann Ward said: "Bugtti clearly made off from police as he knew he had been caught out.

"However, the quick actions of all the officers involved resulted in getting more drugs off the street and over time the evidence stacked up against Bugtti, leading to guilty pleas."

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