I covered my head and shouted “go, go, go” to my colleague in our vehicle, one officer told court
A MAN on the run threatened to “f***ing shoot” police while brandishing a wooden plank concealed in a black bin bag, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Lewis Enos, 34, was approached on Chepstow Road, Newport, at 1.40am last October 23 by police who were out looking for him, said Bethan Evans, prosecuting.
Enos, of Coulson Close, Newport, raised his arm, brandishing the wooden plank, and shouted at police “I’ll shoot you,” added Ms Evans.
The two officers withdrew as they were concerned for their safety, the court was told.
Two officers in another police car then arrived and saw the defendant running down a street. He again shouted “I’ll f***ing shoot you”, forcing one of the officers to duck, said Ms Evans.
When he was taken into police custody, Enos drew a map to show officers where to find the plank and it was used in evidence, said Ms Evans.
In a victim impact statement, one officer said: “When I approached the defendant, I thought he produced a gun. I temporarily froze, and heard my colleague shout ‘get cover’.
“It made me think how if I was shot, how it would affect my family. My colleagues also appeared shaken. We don’t come into work to be threatened in this way.”
In another victim impact statement an officer said: “My reaction was fear combined with instant ducking. I covered my head with my arms and shouted: “go, go, go” to my colleague in our police vehicle.”
Matthew Comer, defending, said: “Lewis Enos has had difficulty with alcohol and cocaine abuse.
“But he has been alcohol free while in custody since November 24. He runs his own gravestone cleaning business which he can recommence when released.
“While in custody, he has also completed multiple courses in construction.”
Enos has 17 previous convictions arising from 26 offences. The most recent was 10 days before he made the threats on October 23 when he kicked a police officer in the leg.
Enos pleaded guilty to three offences of assaulting an emergency worker.
Sentencing him, Judge Paul Hobson said: “These were assaults upon the police not using physical force but by threat. The threat was very serious.
“Police live day by day with the knowledge that they might be confronted by someone using a dangerous weapon, and to deliberately intend to make officers think that you had one runs the risk of escalating into a very serious situation.
“You need to sort your life and focus on the future of the hard work you are capable of rather than go than the path of drink and drugs.”
Judge Hobson jailed Enos for 51 weeks. Enos will serve 40% in custody before he is released to serve the rest on licence.
