Police officer tried to save himself in machete attack, court hears

A witness recalled a police officer trying to save himself from a man armed with a machete. Kevin Davies saw Craig Brown confront Sergeant Brian Simpson near his home in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire.

Brown was said to have been “aggressive” earlier that day.

The 31 year-old denies attempting to murder Sgt Simpson last September.

Mr Davies told the High Court in Glasgow he initially clocked Brown at steps close to his home.

He said he heard Brown state to someone at one stage: “I can stay up here if I f** want to. You can't stop me.”

The 59 year-old ex-ambulance technician recalled: “He was very aggressive.”

The witness said he was “quite uncomfortable” as Brown hung about appearing to be looking up at windows for someone.

Mr Davies recalled a police car then rolled up and an officer spoke to Brown.

He told the jury: “The policeman moved back... the gentleman was then advancing with a machete.

“He had it in his right hand. The officer was going back towards his car.

“He got behind it and the man whacked the machete down on the roof and had a side swipe at the window.

“The police officer was backing away trying to save his own skin.

“There were shouts from both...words like 'back off, back off' by the officer.”

Sgt Simpson earlier told jurors that he was “scared” and feared he could have been killed.

He told the court: “I have never been threatened with a weapon like this in my service.

“He was trying to stab me with it, attack me. I felt shocked that someone could be walking the streets like that.”

Mr Davies spoke to Sgt Simpson after the incident.

Asked how the officer was, the witness said: “Shaken. It was just his demeanour. He just did not seem totally with it... quite red faced, flushed.”

The trial, before Lord Clark, continues.