Officer and his dog braved stab attack

A PC and his dog have been praised for their bravery after a London knifeman was jailed for nine years for repeatedly stabbing them as they tried to apprehend him.

Essa Suleiman, 26, of Camberwell, attacked Pc Neil Sampson and his dog Anya as they tried to arrest him at flats in Swindon following reports that a man had been stabbed.

Suleiman pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of actual bodily harm and one of criminal damage.

Suleiman, a Somalian translator, was jailed at Swindon crown court. Pc Sampson had surgery on his face and was stabbed in the leg in the January attack. Anya was stabbed in the chest. Both did not return to duty until August.

Wiltshire Assistant Chief Constable Andy Marsh praised their actions.