Office of Public Prosecutions appeals light sentence for man who brutally bashed female police officer
AN ice-addicted burglar who got community work instead of jail for brutally bashing a policewoman has had his sentence appealed — the Office of Public Prosecutions calling it “manifestly inadequate”.
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AN ice-addicted burglar who got community work instead of jail for bashing a policewoman has had his sentence appealed.
The thug had received just 200 hours’ community work over the attack, which was so fierce, the young senior constable’s teeth punctured her lip, requiring reconstructive dental surgery.
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But the Office of Public Prosecutions today confirmed it had appealed on the basis that “the sentence was manifestly inadequate”.
The 29-year-old officer was repeatedly hit in the face while making an arrest at Glenroy in April last year.
Ahmed El Lababidi, 26, of Glenroy, initially faced multiple charges, including one of assaulting an emergency worker, which carries a mandatory six months’ jail.
But that charge was among those dropped after he argued there were exceptional circumstances in his case due to his mental illness.
El Lababidi pleaded guilty only to charges of intentionally causing injury and resisting an emergency worker.
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt, who expressed outrage at the sentence, welcomed news of an appeal.
“We believe any assault on one of our members should be treated with the utmost seriousness,’’ Mr Gatt said.
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“We wholly support the decision by the OPP to appeal the sentence delivered in this case, as we felt it did not reflect the gravity of the crime and the impact it had on our member.”
The officer, who was off work for six weeks, has said she now fears for her safety on the frontline.
“I love my job — it’s not something I want to change. But definitely I’ve got a different attitude towards what I want to do,’’ she said.
The appeal was lodged at the end of last year.