Cleveland PC opens up about being punched, pinned down and strangled
762 officers in the Cleveland Police force were assaulted last year
Last updated 10th Feb 2026
Three people have been jailed in under a week for "completely unacceptable" assaults on police officers in Teesside.
We told you yesterday that 762 officers in the Cleveland force were assaulted last year.
One PC was assaulted last June in Middlesbrough after going to a property to arrest a man on suspicion of a commercial burglary.
46 year-old Craig Thompson became violent punching the officer, pinning him down and strangling him before other officers rushed to the scene to assist.
The PC, who's been with Cleveland Police for five years, has been telling us: "I immediately felt panicked. I'm by myself, I'm on the floor, I'm being strangled and I'm starting to choke. It's probably the first time in my career I've never known violence like that.
"It's kind of like survival. We deal with aggressive people and violent individuals on a daily basis. I don't go through a set of shifts without one of my colleagues being assaulted. You're kind of in work mode, the adrenaline kicks in, and you don't really have time to think. It's an 'act now, think later.'
"I've never seen violence towards a police officer. I did feel scared. I did think 'right. This is serious. How long can I last like this before I'm going to become seriously hurt?'
"It's only really afterwards and thought 'right. That went wrong and it went wrong quickly.' And that's when you have time to think 'I have a family at home.'
"I've got a father, a mother, a twin sister, my partner and it's like I went to work that day on the morning and said bye to them all not expecting to experience that within two hours of my shift. It really does hit home and it's unfortunately the sad reality that we have to face and we face it on a daily basis but we'll keep coming to work, we'll keep fighting crime and protect the public ultimately."
Thompson was given a 20-month sentence at the end of January after being found guilty of several offences.
Further assaults
On Wednesday (4th February) 38-year-old William Cash received a 30-month sentence after admitting he assaulted and strangled another Middlesbrough response PC in the early hours of Boxing Day 2024. Cash also has to pay over £200 surcharge fees.
Cash had become volatile as soon as officers arrived at his address, responding to a concern for safety. He initially kicked at the officer who was trying to detain him then a scuffle ensued where Cash bit the same officer twice, got him in a headlock twice and squeezed him with his arm, choking him.
He also made as if to use his Alsatian dog as a weapon against both officers and was sprayed with an incapacitant while numerous other officers rushed to the scene and to their colleagues’ aid.
A third man was dealt with at court the following day (Thursday 5th February). 45-year-old Darren McGee received a 45-month sentence following an incident in April last year when police were called to a report of ongoing criminal damage to CCTV cameras in Stockton town centre.
As police arrived at the scene, McGee tried to make off and as he was being detained, he violently and painfully assaulted a male officer before fleeing again, climbing onto a nearby roof to evade police.