Police officer hits out as young Lanarkshire thug who 'nearly beat him to death' avoids jail

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A police officer has hit out at the sentencing of a young Lanarkshire thug who nearly beat him to death. The policeman said he’s lucky to be alive after he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the head.

Attacker Josh Smith was spared jail when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court. The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The 20-year-old was convicted of assault to injury and sentenced to a six-month home curfew and 18-month community payback order.

The officer was attacked as he tried to arrest Smith amid reports of a man with a knife in April 2021 in Wishaw. But the officer, who had to take time off work, told 1919 Magazine: “I’ve had somebody who, to put it bluntly, was close enough to killing me and all he’s got is to stay at home.” “How can you say kicking someone on the head is not endangering their life?”Instead Smith, of Shand Street, Wishaw, was handed a six-month electronic tagging order at Hamilton Sheriff Court last month.He admitted assaulting the male officer to his injury in Gala Crescent, Wishaw, on April 11, 2021.At least seven police officers were called to a disturbance there.Smith threatened to kill the officer, then punched him before kicking him on the head and body.The charge stated that the officer lost consciousness but an allegation that he was assaulted to the danger of his