A MAN who tried to murder a police sergeant and attempted to stab another in the groin has been made detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mohammed Ibrahim, 34, plunged a knife into Sergeant Carl Blanks’ stomach during scenes of chaos at his Newport bedsit.

He then tried to stab Sergeant Leighton Healan after he had rushed to his colleague’s aid.

The 34-year-old also set fire to his room knowing police officers and his neighbours were in the building.

Sergeant Blanks suffered a horrific 6cm stab wound and it was only the swift actions of colleagues and surgeons which saved his life.

Due to his mental health, Ibrahim was deemed unfit to enter pleas to any charges or to stand trial.

But a Swansea Crown Court jury found him guilty of attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a trial of issue.

On April 23 last year Gwent Police officers were called to a house of multiple occupancy at St Vincent Road in Newport by residents concerned about Ibrahim’s behaviour.

During the trial of issue, the jury heard how Sergeant Blanks had ordered Ibrahim’s door to be forced open and PC Ryan Morton had kicked it open.

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

After he was attacked, reinforcements arrived including Sergeant Healan who told the court the building was already on fire.

“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.”

Sergeant Healan said he pointed his Taser at Ibrahim and ordered him to drop the knife.

When he refused to, he fired his Taser.

Ibrahim fell straight back in to the room but Sgt Healan told of how he was unable to find him due to his dark clothing and the room had filled with 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.”

Judge Paul Thomas QC told Ibrahim: “You pose a very significant risk of causing very serious harm.”

He was sentenced to a hospital order.