A JUDGE has praised the ‘exceptional’ bravery of an off-duty police officer who disarmed a knife-wielding attacker in a busy Weymouth town centre.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark praised Sergeant Dave Stroud after sentencing the attacker, Paul Andrew Newman, to a year in jail.

Newman, 41, of Dorchester Road, was jailed after being found guilty at a trial on charges of assault by beating, unlawful wounding and possessing a weapon in a public place.

The jury at Dorchester Crown Court heard how John Moore was walking through the town centre at around 4pm on December 30, 2008, when Newman approached him and punched him twice to the face.

Newman then pulled out a knife before Sgt Stroud, who was in town shopping, saw the altercation and moved in to restrain him.

Sgt Stroud suffered two deep cuts to his fingers but managed to hold on to Newman until other officers arrived to take him into custody.

Judge Harvey Clark told Newman: “I regard these offences as serious – what you did was attack another man in the street.

“There was no question that you were the aggressor. You were not acting in self-defence and then to compound it you pulled out your penknife, opened the blade and brandished it at Mr Moore.

“To his immense credit Sgt Stroud, knowing that you had an open-bladed knife in your hand, managed to wrestle it from your grasp. In doing so he suffered quite serious cuts to the fingers of his left hand.”

Newman claimed in court that the assault was an act of self-defence.

He said Mr Moore had been repeatedly ‘harassing’ him in Weymouth town centre as a member of the Shop Link radio team.

Mr Moore denied the claims.

Judge Harvey Clark added that Sgt Stroud deserved commendation from the High Sheriff of Dorset for his bravery.

He said: “I regard the actions of the off-duty police officer as quite exceptional. He was acting in the very best traditions of the local police force.

“I believe that a letter of commendation should be presented to Sgt Stroud for his efforts on behalf of the community.”

Acting Detective Sergeant Ed Meanwell of Weymouth CID, who was lead officer in the case, was also full of praise for Sgt Stroud and supported Judge Harvey Clark’s sentence.

He said: “The judge sent a clear message to anyone found in possession of a bladed article in a public place for unlawful purposes that they will be dealt with strictly by the police and courts and can expect to receive a custodial sentence.”

Mr Moore welcomed Newman’s conviction and said he was pleased he did not have to face the defendant in Weymouth town centre for the foreseeable future. He said the unprovoked attack still affected him and had left him with ‘butterflies in my stomach’.