Forfar thug who broke police officer’s leg jailed after breaching order

A man who dodged jail after breaking a constable’s leg in Forfar is finally behind bars after breaching a court order.

Connor Collins’ sentencing sparked anger amongst police after he avoided imprisonment for the brutal attack.

He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work after breaking PC John Annand’s leg during an arrest in September last year and was issued with a six month curfew and supervision.

This was despite the Sheriff Alastair Carmichael at the time conceding that the incident “merited a custodial sentence”.

1919 Magazine, funded by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), reported that Collins has now been given a 12-month custodial sentence for breaching his community payback order.

Blew chance at liberty

The federation heavily criticised the community sentence when Collins was in court at the start of the year, believing he should have been jailed for the assault.

During a struggle, PC John Annand’s ankle was broken so severely his foot was left facing in the wrong direction and he required emergency surgery.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Collins – who had earlier threatened to break the officer’s leg – landed on it during the confrontation.

The constable’s confidence had been badly dented by the incident and he had been off work for months as a result.

However, a sheriff decided against imprisoning Collins, from the Angus town, after being told he had expressed remorse and insight into the consequences of his actions.

Sheriff Carmichael said: “This behaviour was entirely inappropriate, as you know.

“It merits a custodial sentence, but I have to look at other options.

“An officer broke his ankle in the course of this but I accept that wasn’t your intention.

“I view the threats you made towards them to be as bad as the physical contact.”

Outcry over sentencing

At the time of his sentencing, Federation chairman David Hamilton tweeted: “This animal should have been caged.”

Is this the protection that Police Officers can expect from the court? Or is it Government that is preventing appropriate sentencing? Whatever the case, this animal should have been caged.

— David Hamilton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦 (@DvdHmltn) January 31, 2022

He told the magazine’s latest edition: “This thug should have been locked up when he first committed this despicable attack.

“His further contempt for society by breaching his community payback order underpins why it was an inappropriate disposal in the first place.

“Courts need to treat violence against police officers much more seriously and recognise that those who attack public servants should be kept behind bars from the outset.”