Carlisle woman jailed after slashing police officer's face with a knife
Hannah Smaile will spend over four years in prison.
Last updated 23rd Dec 2025
A woman who slashed a police officer's face with a knife has been jailed for over four years.
25-year-old Hannah Smaile was sentenced to four years and eight months today at Carlisle Crown Court after admitting unlawfully and maliciously wounding a female officer with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm. She also admitted assaulting a male officer, causing him actual bodily harm. In addition, she pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening both officers with a knife.
Two officers arrived at Smaile’s home in Lister Court in Carlisle on the morning of the 28th of May this year after she had called the police.
Smaile appeared from a side room and lunged towards the female officer with a silver kitchen knife, cornering her. She slashed the female officer across the nose.
The male officer struggled with Smaile who would not drop the knife, despite being repeatedly told to do so. She then attempted to injure him with the knife.
Smaile was forced into a bedroom and the door held shut behind her until assistance could arrive. She then threw the knife out of the window, which was later recovered by police.
During her police interview, Smaile said she could not recall the incident as she had been smoking cannabis that morning.
The female officer was taken to hospital, where she received eight stitches to her face.
Detective Constable Lisa Atkinson, Cumberland CID, was the investigating officer in this case. She said: “This was a horrific and completely unprovoked attack on officers who had attended the address following a request for help from the defendant."
“The responding officers had been nothing but courteous and professional in their approach to her before she attacked them."
“The officers both displayed exceptional bravery and courage in a situation they could never have foreseen until it occurred."
“No police officer should ever have to experience what both officers experienced that day – being attacked with a knife inside a small residence without any chance to escape the attacker."
“We hope this incident will serve as a stark reminder of the dangers police officers face whilst working to keep people safe.”