Armed man who attacked officers outside police station jailed for life
Alexander Dighton, 28, knocked one officer unconscious and stabbed another in the leg when he launched an attack on Talbot Green Police Station in Rhondda Cynon Taf on January 31
Last updated 13th Jun 2025
A man armed with Molotov cocktails and a hatchet who attacked officers outside a South Wales police station has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.
Alexander Dighton, 28, knocked one officer unconscious and stabbed another in the leg when he launched an attack on Talbot Green Police Station in Rhondda Cynon Taf on January 31.
In a police interview after the attack, Dighton, of Pontyclun, said he did not consider the scope of damage, "merely that blood had to be spilt".
He previously admitted 10 charges relating to the incident, including attempting to murder Detective Constable Jack Cotton and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Richard Coleman.
Dighton also admitted assaulting Pc Joshua Emlyn and threatening Pc Stephanie Fleming with an adapted wooden pole.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC sentenced Dighton, who had been referred to the anti-terrorism programme Prevent in January 2024, to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve a minimum of 22 years.
The judge told the defendant, who represented himself in court, that the offences had "a terrorist connection".
He said: "It is clear that you continue to hold entrenched views.
"Other than the early guilty pleas, there is little else to be said to your credit."
The judge said the police officers that encountered Dighton were experienced.
He added: "Whilst they accept potential violence and difficult confrontations are part of the role of being a police officer, they were all deeply shocked by the nature and ferocity of your attack."
Prosecuting, Nicholas Hearn described how Dighton's sister had reported him to Prevent due to concerns he held "racist and anti-Muslim views" and was likely to be involved with incel groups.
On the night of the attack, Dighton arrived at the police station shortly before 7pm, where he lit a petrol bomb and threw it at a police van.
When that failed to ignite, he attempted to start a fire by pouring lighter fluid over the van before smashing the windows of two vehicles using a pole.
When confronted by officers, Dighton said "I'm fed up, I'm done", before launching his attack.
Attempts to restrain him using a Taser were unsuccessful because of the body armour he was wearing.
He swung a pole at one officer, punched one in the head and stabbed another in the thigh, narrowly missing his femoral artery.
Two of the three injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment.