A man accused of stabbing a police officer in the neck with a wine bottle in an unprovoked attack at a funfair has pleaded guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm.
Tony Bull, 23, of Sutton Park Road, entered the plea at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday.
The court heard Mr Bull stabbed PC Paul Dalton, a member of Carshalton’s safer neighbourhood team, without warning from behind at 8.30pm on Sunday, May 24.
Despite his injuries PC Dalton, 44, chased the suspect and arrested him after the attack at W Davis funfair in Wrythe Lane, Carshalton.
PC Dalton, a father of two grown-up children, was back on the beat just two days after the incident after taking time off work to come to terms with the assault.
PC Dalton, tasked with dealing with local disorder and nuisance when he was stabbed, suffered a 2cm minor wound between his shoulder blade and neck and he was protected from more serious injury by his stab-proof vest.
With the help of a member of the public, who gave him a lift in his car, he chased the suspect into Plumpton Road where he arrested him.
A later medical investigation showed Mr Bull had a cut on his right hand, which he is alleged to have carried the broken bottle in.
Mr Bull will be sentenced on September 8.
No alcohol was sold at the W Davis fair, which has been operating for more than 100 years and arrives annually in Sutton.
Speaking to the Sutton Guardian after the attack, PC Dalton, who has been a police officer for 25 years, said the incident would not deter him from his job.
He said: “It was a surprise at the time. It all happened very quickly.
“I was talking to a member of the public and there was hardly anybody around at the time.
“The injury was extremely minor considering what could have happened.
"It is still a concern and I do wonder why something like this would happen.
“My family were worried, but we’ve a good faith in God.”
He said: “It was a good family occasion and it’s shame something like this happened, as the fairground should not get tarred with the same brush.”
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