Man on trial for attempted murder of Gwent Police sergeant

Sgt Leighton Healan, a member of Gwent Police’s Area Support Unit, was called to attend an incident in St Vincent Lane in the early hours of April 23, following reports that a fellow sergeant – Sgt Carl Blanks – had been stabbed.

Sgt Blanks was rushed to the Royal Gwent Hospital having sustained knife wounds to the abdomen area. He was discharged in May last year.

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Mohammed Ibrahim, now 34, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with the attempted murder of Sgt Blanks, attempting to wound Sgt Healan with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, and arson with the intent to endanger life.

Ibrahim is unfit to stand trial so the jury must decide not his guilt or innocence but whether he committed the alleged acts.

Sgt Healan told the court that, as he arrived at the scene, Sgt Blanks was stood outside the property “holding his left hand side with both hands,” and that he looked “very pale” – like he was in shock – and he “could see blood on his lower half.”

Sgt Healan said the building was already on fire when he arrived and went upstairs to the room in question.

“I was met by a male person who appeared in the doorway,” he said. “It was the defendant in this case.

“I could see he was holding a knife – what I thought was a kitchen knife. The blade was about four or five inches.

“I was probably about two metres from him.

“All I wanted to do at that point was to get that knife from him and get him in handcuffs.”

St Vincent Lane was cordoned off in Newport in April 2020. Picture: Huw Evans Agency.

Sgt Healan told the court he pointed his Taser at the man and ordered him to drop the knife. The man did not, and Sgt Healan discharged his Taser.

The man fell straight back in to the room, but Sgt Healan was unable to find him due to his dark clothing and the smoke.

“I saw the knife come out of the smoke almost between my legs,” he said. “It came out of nowhere through the smoke.

“The point of the knife was almost towards my waistband.”

Sgt Healan said he then retreated out onto the stairs, and saw the defendant smash a window and escape onto the roof outside.

Officers outside St Vincent Lane in Newport following the incident in April 2020. Picture: Huw Evans Agency.

He and “three or four” other officers followed through the window on the floor below. Another officer discharged a Taser and Sgt Healan said he used his baton striking the man “up to 10 times” to subdue him so he could be arrested.

The court also heard evidence from PC Ryan Morton, the officer who kicked the door of the room down and entered on the shoulder of Sgt Blanks.

“I knocked on the door and asked him to open the door and he refused. This went on for about five or ten minutes,” PC Morton said.

“Sgt Blanks made the decision to force entry. I kicked the door three or four times.”

Forensic teams enter the address on St Vincent Lane following the alleged stabbing. Picture: Huw Evans Agency.

Owen Williams, defending, asked PC Morton if he saw Sgt Banks get stabbed.

“I didn’t at the time as Sgt Blanks was right in front of me,” said PC Morton. “I did not see the knife enter his body.

“I heard him make a groan noise and he said something like ‘I’ve been stabbed’.”

PC Morton had entered with his Taser drawn, but said he was unable to get a clear shot, so withdrew from the flat.

PC Lauren Price and PC Jen Harrington were the first officers on the scene.

They had been called to the scene after reports of a man “banging on his neighbour’s door” at around 5.30am, PC Price said.

“We took a calm approach as we had no reason at that point to think he was going to do what he did,” she said.

Mr Williams asked PC Price if she saw the defendant starting the fire in his flat.

“I didn’t see the fire being started,” she said. “I just know that it was in Mohammed Ibrahim’s room.

“It was to the right of the window in the back of the room I saw the fire.”

The jury was played footage from body cameras worn by officers covering their arrival at the property, entering the room and Sgt Blanks’ injury, and of the arrest taking place.

Julia Cox appeared on behalf of the prosecution, and Judge Paul Thomas QC presides.

The trial continues.