A Lancaster police officer has described the decision to free a man jailed for throwing a brick through his patrol car window weeks after sentencing as ‘disgusting’.
PC Conor McIntyre was left bloodied, bruised and severely concussed after an attack on attack on him in the city centre in November 2025.
The perpetrator spent five months on remand before being jailed for 15 further months after admitting unlawful wounding and criminal damage.
He was then identified for early release 16 days after being sentenced.
Now PC McIntyre and Lancashire Police Federation – the staff association representing police officers – have now hit out at the early release of the offender and questioned what deterrent there is for assaulting police officers.
“This news was a real kick in the teeth,” said PC McIntyre.
“It has added insult to my injuries. This disgusting decision has given me no confidence in the justice system.
“I have been a police officer for nearly seven years. I love my job and I'm good at it, but this incident has caused me to re-evaluate my career as a constable.”
“Luckily my colleagues got there pretty quickly, but my recollection of that time is non-existent, really.
“I've got a young daughter at home, and it was hard for her seeing how much of a mess my face was.
On November 22 last year, George Jacob, and another man were spotted in possession of an electric motorbike.
PC McIntyre began a conversation with the men, and seized the motorbike, but Jacob quickly became violent, shouting at the officer and pushing him before running away.
The officer returned to his police car and was completing some paperwork in it when Jacob returned, armed with a brick. He threw the brick through the driver’s side window, hitting the PC in the face.
The officer was taken to hospital and had suffered severe concussion, two chipped teeth, lacerations to his face, a scratched eye, and had to have an amount of glass removed.
42-year-old Jacob, of no fixed address, was arrested, and following a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, charged.
He pleaded guilty to Section 20 wounding, police assault and criminal damage.
The eye was not permanently damaged, but he still has facial scars, and needs more dental work. He was signed off work and then put onto restricted duties, after which he returned to the frontline.
‘’I want to help people, protect victims and put those who don't belong on the streets away,’’ added PC McIntyre.
‘’But when my safety is put on the line and my ability to provide for my wife and daughter is jeopardised by such a cowardly act, it has made me feel like it’s no longer worth it.”
Lancashire Police Federation Chair Martin Midgley said: “This was a calculated assault on an officer sitting in a car. It was pre-meditated. There needs to be a clear message sent out that officers should not be assaulted just for doing their jobs – they are working in often dangerous environments, protecting the public.
“There were 48,888 assaults on UK Police Officers over the past year. An average of 134 every day. An Officer assaulted on average every 10 minutes. In Lancashire 389 police officers were assaulted last year.
“We need to protect our protectors and provide a visible and consistent deterrent against these despicable crimes. An attack on an officer is an attack on society.
“As well as the effect of these assaults on officers’ mental health, to then feel let down by the criminal justice system is terrible. If you assault a police officer, there should be no early release from prison.”
PC McIntyre added: “The force and the Federation have been a brilliant support, and the force tried to push back on the offender being released.
‘’I told the Chief Inspector, and he was absolutely disgusted with it, so they tried to put some pressure on the prison, but it didn't work. That length of sentence is not much of a deterrent, plus he’s a serial offender.”
Speaking at the time of sentencing, Detective Inspector Adie Knowles, of Lancaster CID said: “No one should go to work to be assaulted, but sadly this officer was, for simply doing his job.
“They shouldn’t have to worry about being injured by someone else, for trying to keep the public safe.
“Whilst it isn’t my place to comment on the sentence itself, I, and the officer involved do want to tell you about this, so that you know it is not and never will be acceptable.
“It is not something to be accepted, it is not ‘just part of the job’. It is a criminal act, and one that will not be tolerated.”
Beyond Radio has contacted the Parole Board for comment.
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