Man who tried to gouge police officer's eyes jailed

A man who tried to gouge a police officer's eyes out after being arrested at a bail hostel for a suspected drug offence has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

Stephen Binding attacked the officer at police headquarters in Douglas in October after saying: "I'm really going to kick off in a moment."

Binding also repeatedly tried to bite and headbutt the PC, breaking his glasses and fracturing his elbow, before being subdued with Pava spray.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 35-year-old was out on licence at the time after a previous conviction for attacking a different officer in Ramsey in 2021 with a craft knife.

Binding had been reported to police by staff at Tromode House in Braddan on 28 October after CCTV footage had raised suspicion he was in possession of cannabis, the court was told.

After being charged, he attacked the officer while at the custody desk, saying afterwards that if he was going to be sent back to prison he "might as well make it worthwhile".

He later admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the officer said he still suffered pain in his elbow and he had been in fear he would lose his eyesight.

Deemster Cook told Binding the PC was "simply doing his job" when the "red mist came upon you", adding that officers "deserve respect".

The deemster also handed him an extended licence period of two years.

The court heard Binding had already been recalled to prison by the parole committee to serve the remainder of his sentence for the previous offence, which would see him remain in prison until 2030.

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