A KILLER who tried to throw a newly qualified female police officer off a balcony in Newton Abbot as she went to save his life has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Guy Pottle, 39, of no fixed abode, was jailed when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to charges of attempted grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

Jailing him, Judge James Patrick said: ‘You are an extremely dangerous man and the public needs to be protected from you.’

He jailed Pottle for 10 years and six months for the attempted GBH, three years concurrently for the wounding and gave a five year extended sentence because he said Pottle is a dangerous offender.

Pottle had been standing on the outside of railings on the first floor of a building in Drake Road in the early hours of February 10 this year.

PC Alice Beer, who was only months into her dream job as a police officer, grabbed Pottle’s arm to save him from jumping to his death.

But Exeter Crown Court heard today that he turned to stare at her and then smashed a glass bottle into the side of her head, which caused her temporary blindness in her right eye.

The court was told violent Pottle - who was jailed in 2019 for six years for manslaughter after he killed 41 year old Antony Moore with a single punch in Exeter - clambered over the railings, grabbed PC Beer by the legs and hoisted her horizontally over the metal barrier.

She feared she was going to die but struggled back on to the balcony where Pottle repeatedly punched her in the face and head.

She sprayed Pottle incapacitant spray before he leapt over the balcony to the ground and was arrested.

PC Beer said: ‘He was trying to kill me or seriously hurt me. I thought I am going to die. I was really scared.’

In a victim impact statement, she said Pottle was trying to throw her head first off the balcony and she now suffers with potential PTSD, flashbacks and nightmares and fears she may have to leave her ‘dream job’.

The court was shown a 90 second long bodycam footage of the terrifying incident.

Pottle said he had downed 1.5 litres of vodka and could not remember anything about the incident.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to PC Beer and unlawfully wounding the officer.

Mr Lee Brembridge, defence barrister, said: ‘There is a lot to dislike about Guy Pottle. What he did he should not have done.’

He said Pottle was the victim of childhood violence and has ADHD.

Judge Patrick said alcohol and drug addict Pottle was on licence from his manslaughter conviction when he carried out this offence.

The judge, who commended PC Beer’s bravery, said: ‘She came to your help motivated by simply trying to do the best to help you.’

He said the bodycam footage was ‘chilling’ saying the effects on her have been ‘devastating’.

After the sentencing,

Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, Commander, South Devon, said: ‘Incidents like this are thankfully rare but it puts into sharp focus the risks officers regularly face in order to protect others from harm.

‘I would like to publicly commend PC Beer for the bravery she showed when attending this incident and the incredible fortitude she has shown since.

‘Her response to this has been quite simply humbling, and she has vowed not to let this incident define her career.

‘Like all of us, she joined policing to help others and protect the vulnerable, and I thoroughly commend her for tackling the situation even though it meant putting herself at significant risk.

‘Thankfully PC Beer has since returned to frontline duties.

‘I think we all realise that this incident could easily have resulted in a much more tragic outcome.

‘I have nothing but praise for all those at the scene during what were some extremely difficult and challenging circumstances. Also recognising the impact on the families of those involved, we will continue to provide support to PC Beer, her colleagues and those affected.’