Bodyworn video shows moment police officer was threatened by knife-wielding Port Talbot man

Thirty-three-year-old James Perry has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for criminal damage, Section 4 public order, assault on an emergency worker and threatening a person with a bladed article in a private place.

At around 8am on Wednesday, September 28, PC Pontin and PC White attended a report of a disturbance inside an address at Sandfields, Port Talbot.

Whilst there the officers spoke with James Perry to establish what had happened and explain that he wouldn’t be able to stay at the address due to the disturbance that had occurred.

At this point he became aggressive and refused to leave, pushing both officers to the chest before running downstairs into the kitchen with the officers following him.

Armed with a large kitchen knife James Perry raised his arm and pointed it at PC Pontin whilst coming towards her. He held the knife in one hand and grabbed PC Pontin’s shoulder with the other. Fearing the knife was going to be used against her, PC Pontin flung herself backwards causing her to fall to the floor.

Perry’s actions were stopped by PC White who intervened in possession of a Taser.

Perry then proceeded to hold the knife to his throat and despite being instructed to drop the knife he refused, resulting in him being tasered and subsequently arrested by the officers.

Chief Inspector James Ratti said:

“The footage from the officers' body worn cameras shows the dangers that officers can face at any time.

“Police officers go above and beyond in their duties to protect people and under no circumstances should they be assaulted or verbally abused. The overwhelming majority of the public support the work of our officers and will understandably be shocked by the footage.

“I am extremely proud of PC Pontin and PC White’s professionalism and bravery in dealing with this incident”.