Attacker admits to stabbing PC

2:12pm Sunday 6th July 2008

STABBED police officer Neil Sampson was celebrating last night after hearing his attacker had been convicted of grievous bodily harm.

Essa Suleiman admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to dog handler PC Sampson, and his faithful German shepherd Anya.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, PC Sampson said: "It is great news. It is just nice to know we can draw a line under it now.

"He's not going to be walking the streets now and not going to be able to cause any harm to anyone else.

"I am really surprised. I think I might be having a few beers this weekend to celebrate."

PC Sampson was repeatedly stabbed after being called to a 999 call in Briarswood Court, Liden, on January 3.

When his dog Anya leapt to her handler's defence, Suleiman also seriously injured her.

Suleiman, of Boundary Road, Camberwell, south London, had previously denied two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to PC Sampson, and causing a facial injury to a second police officer, who cannot be named because of the sensitive nature of his work.

The 26-year-old yesterday changed his pleas to guilty for the assaults on the two officers and criminal damage to police dog Anya.

He also admitted wounding with intent to cause actual bodily harm to fellow Somali Ahmed Huriye.

Kwame Inyundo, defending Suleiman at Swindon Crown Court, said his client only admitted actual bodily harm on the basis that he did not have the knife at that stage.

He said he had suffered mental health problems for a number of years and the court should consider a hospital order instead of jail.

"In short he was mentally unwell at the time and had been deteriorating," he said.

During the frenzied attack, Suleiman left PC Sampson with two deep stab wounds in his leg, a four-inch gash to the back of his head and a long cut across his face.

But both he and Anya have almost completely recovered from their injuries and are back at work, in training to return to active service.

After leaving hospital, the 47-year-old father of three praised his four-legged friend for saving his life.

"I'm happy she's mine," he said. "I'm not a hero. It's that dog. I owe my life to her."

Suleiman maintained his not guilty plea to a charge of affray, which will be left on the file until he is sentenced.

Suleiman was remanded in custody until sentencing on August 1.