Thug claims attack that left policewoman bloodied was ‘self defence’

AN ice-addicted thug who was spared jail over the brutal bashing of a policewoman says he has done nothing wrong, claiming his vicious attack was “self defence”.

AN ice-addicted thug who was spared jail over the brutal bashing of a policewoman says he has done nothing wrong.

Ahmed El Lababidi 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.

COP BASHER’S LIGHT SENTENCE APPEALED

The Office of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence on the basis that it was manifestly inadequate.

A prosecutor told the County Court today El Lababidi should have been jailed for minimum mandatory six month term for attacks on emergency service workers.

Ahmed El Lababidi defended his actions to media outside court. Picture: Shannon Deery.

A policewoman was left bloodied after the brutal bashing.

But El Lababidi, 26, told the Herald Sun today he had a clean record and didn’t belong behind bars.

He defended his vicious attack, saying he was attacking in self defence.

“They attacked me first, it was self defence,” he said. “They’re trying to exaggerate it.

“There are so many ways you can handle a situation, they didn’t handle it properly, so it was a bit of self defence.

“It was like a shove and then I threw myself on the ground. I didn’t mean it.

“I didn’t attack, they attacked me first, that’s what I’m trying to say.”

The 29-year-old officer was repeatedly hit in the face while making an arrest at Glenroy in April last year.

The officer was repeatedly hit in the face.

Her teeth punctured her lip in the incident.

El Lababidi, of Glenroy, initially faced multiple charges, including one of assaulting an emergency worker, which carries the 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.

The officer, who works on the front line, said the attack impacted how she went about her day-to-day work. Picture: Kylie Else

OUTRAGE AS BRUTAL COP BASHER AVOIDS JAIL TIME

OUR COURTS SLAMMED FOR SOFT SENTENCING

“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 has been set down for February 16 to give El Lababidi time to instruct lawyers.