Man who attacked police with Molotov cocktail and hatchet is jailed for life
Alexander Dighton will not be eligibly for parole for at least 21 years and 235 days
CCTV footage: Man who attacked officers with Molotov cocktail jailed for life
A man who tried to murder a police officer while armed with Molotov cocktails has been jailed for life and will have to serve a minimum of 22 years.
Alexander Dighton, 28 from Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was wearing body armour when he carried out the attack outside Talbot Green police station last January.
The shocking footage has now been released and shows the terror of the scene that led to his arrest and ultimate incarceration.
Dighton injured several officers and admitted trying to murder a police officer with a knife and was sentenced at the Old Bailey in London.
Due to the time Dighton spent on remand he will spend a minimum term of 21 years and 235 days before he can be considered for parole.
The court heard he was also made subject of terrorist notification requirements for 30 years.
Dighton arrived at Talbot Green police station in January armed with a hatchet, a pole and Molotov cocktails. Brandishing his weapons, he told PC Stephanie Fleming, who confronted him: 'I'm fed up, I'm done.'
Dighton threw one Molotov cocktail at a police van, but it failed to ignite, so he poured petrol onto another and set it alight before using a long wooden pole to smash the van's windows.
Dighton was tasered and sprayed with Pava spray, but it had no effect.
Alexander Dighton was jailed for life after police attack
He attacked Sgt Richard Coleman in the station foyer, hitting him in the head with the pole, and then punched Det Con Joshua Emlyn.
At this point three police officers attempted to restrain Dighton, and he stabbed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg, wounding him.
Dighton represented himself in court at a previous hearing and admitted attempted murder with a knife, attempted arson, attacking two other police officers, and threatening a third - pleading guilty to a total of 10 charges.
Two officers were treated in hospital for their injuries.
The judge told the Old Bailey today that the officers were in a state of shock and some thought they were going to die.
Police believe Dighton began planning his attack a month before the incident.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was left with a fractured skull and brain damage after ‘random' attack on night out… then I got a chilling message
A MAN was left with brain damage after a vicious attack as he walked home from a night out. Al Moreton woke up in hospital two days after the incident, with no memory of what happened. Advertisement 9 Al Moreton, 46, believes he was attacked as he walked home Credit: Al Moreton 9 He suffered brain damage and lost his job as a lorry driver Credit: Al Moreton 9 Al doesn't remember anything from the night out after blacking out Credit: Al Moreton The 46-year-old was left with two bleeds on the brain, brain damage and four fractures to his skull, and has lost his job as a HGV driver as a result. Doctors told him his injuries were consistent with being struck repeatedly, rather than a fall, he says. But with police closing the case after being unable to find any CCTV footage, Al posted about it on Facebook before receiving an odd response. He was sent a DM from a stranger telling him he may know who committed the attack but was too scared to give any further details. Advertisement READ MORE NEWS Al had been attending a friend's private birthday party at Bomba nightclub in Exeter on Friday, February 28. He drove from his home in Cullompton, Devon, arriving at the club around 8pm - with the plan to get the last bus home at 11pm and pick up his car the next day. However, Al is told by pals he became quickly intoxicated despite only having a few drinks, and fears he may have been spiked. He told The Sun: "I don't remember anything from after leaving the house due to my injuries." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Al understands he left the club, in The Quay area of the city centre, at 10.30pm with the intention of heading for the bus station. But he said witnesses told him he was seen walking the opposite direction towards the River Exe. Horror moment Ballymena rioter accidentally sets himself on FIRE with Molotov cocktail as violence spreads in 2nd night At around 11am the next day he was found by a passerby lying unconscious at Marsh Barton industrial estate, around two miles from the club. "All I've been told is someone who spotted me picked me up and dropped me at the hospital," he explained. Advertisement "He didn't leave his name or anything, he just dropped me off and didn't want to be involved in any other way." Al added: "I'd like to be able to thank the person. I've no idea who they are. It was a very strange event which has caused me massive problems." I'd like to be able to thank the person. I've no idea who they are. It was a very strange event which has caused me massive problems. Al Moreton attack victim He explained he had a "small recollection" of Saturday, March 1, "but thought that was a dream", adding: "When I woke up on Sunday I realised it wasn't a dream. I had family around me." Al said his injuries, according to hospital staff, "aren't consistent with falling over - the injury to my forehead is consistent with being hit by something". Advertisement He continued: "I've got no scraping - if I'd fallen over I would have hit something and scraped. "I've just got particular points where I might have been hit by something. 9 Doctors said that Al's injuries were consistent with being struck repeatedly Credit: Al Moreton 9 Al had been at a friend's birthday party in Bomba nightclub Credit: Google Advertisement 9 He drunkenly headed towards the River Exe after leaving the venue Credit: Alamy "They discounted the fact I had fallen over and must have been from an attack." Al said he reported it to police and they "investigated for a month or so" and was told officers had done door to door inquiries and searched for CCTV footage - but came up with nothing. "It's odd that there's no footage of me, considering I ended up on an industrial estate where I assume there's loads of cameras," he said. Advertisement Judging by his route, Al believes he likely walked passed a couple of pubs too. "Pubs would've been kicking out that sort of time and people would've been around and about," he said. Strangely, Al didn't have any possessions missing when he woke up in the hospital. "My phone was apparently missing but was actually picked up by a doctor who worked at the hospital, so I had it back when I woke up," he explained. Advertisement "My wallet was there and there was no money missing, so it wasn't a robbery." Roaming gang Al theorised it could have been a gang roaming around who attacked him at random. "They may have seen how vulnerable I was and decided to start something," he said. "I'm not a violent person, I wouldn't have been aggressive, I never am when I'm drunk, I'm more of a lover than fighter when I'm drunk." Advertisement He posted about the incident on Facebook a few days after getting out of hospital and then a couple of weeks ago noticed he had "four or five" messages in his spam folder. "There was someone who had said that they thought they saw me actually not at the Quay but further away in a different direction, stumbling around drunk. "I've got to hand that onto the police and see if they pursue that." He said another message was very strange. "Someone on Facebook said 'I know who the people are'. Advertisement "They said 'I'm a bit afraid to talk about it' - but then said they would give further information for money, so I don't know how real that was. I passed it onto police." The event Al was attending was a private, invite-only do for around 50 people. Asked how likely it is he could've been spiked, he said: "I find it hard to believe, usually it's women who get spiked. But speaking to someone else, they said actually all sorts of people get spiked because you're left vulnerable and can be followed." He's not sure if he was tested for substances in his blood while he was in hospital but said it wasn't mentioned by the doctors. Advertisement Referring to his injuries, Al continued: "I had two bleeds on the brain, one on each side at the front and then four fractures around my right eye socket. I'm not working, so struggling to pay rent and pay bills. It's led to a dramatic change in my circumstances Al Moreton attack victim "That's now been fixed and plated. One of the points I had a bleed I had some damage to the brain on that side, which has caused me to effectively lose my job because I'm a lorry driver. "I've had my licences revoked for 12 months because I'm at a risk of seizures. "I'm not working, so struggling to pay rent and pay bills. It's led to a dramatic change in my circumstances." Advertisement Al has been told he suffered "serious significant head injuries" but that his cognitive functions will improve over time. "Like with a lot of injuries, it takes time while I recover - they said I should recover 100%, but they can't be sure at this stage." Al says he was told by the DVLA he needed to prove he's "less than a two percent risk" of seizures over a 12 month period before he can be given his licence back. "I've not had a seizure and I don't feel like I've been on the verge of having one," he explained. Advertisement Al is currently suffering with post concussion syndrome, having spent a couple of months living at his mum's home following the attack. "I wasn't bedridden but I was extremely tired and had constant headaches which were debilitating in themselves," he said of that initial recovery period. "I had constant headaches, woke up with them and went bed with them - I was drained and worn out by the injuries, so mostly stayed in bed." He added: "I'm keeping myself to myself. I've got a little bit of social anxiety after what happened." Advertisement The Sun has approached Devon & Cornwall Police for comment. Do you know more? Email 9 Al fears he may have been spiked Credit: Google 9 Around 50 people attended the invite-only event (stock image) Credit: Google Advertisement 9 The bus station in the centre of Exeter Credit: Alamy
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Man who attacked police with Molotov cocktail and hatchet is jailed for life
Alexander Dighton will not be eligibly for parole for at least 21 years and 235 days CCTV footage: Man who attacked officers with Molotov cocktail jailed for life A man who tried to murder a police officer while armed with Molotov cocktails has been jailed for life and will have to serve a minimum of 22 years. Alexander Dighton, 28 from Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was wearing body armour when he carried out the attack outside Talbot Green police station last January. The shocking footage has now been released and shows the terror of the scene that led to his arrest and ultimate incarceration. Dighton injured several officers and admitted trying to murder a police officer with a knife and was sentenced at the Old Bailey in London. Due to the time Dighton spent on remand he will spend a minimum term of 21 years and 235 days before he can be considered for parole. The court heard he was also made subject of terrorist notification requirements for 30 years. Dighton arrived at Talbot Green police station in January armed with a hatchet, a pole and Molotov cocktails. Brandishing his weapons, he told PC Stephanie Fleming, who confronted him: 'I'm fed up, I'm done.' Dighton threw one Molotov cocktail at a police van, but it failed to ignite, so he poured petrol onto another and set it alight before using a long wooden pole to smash the van's windows. Dighton was tasered and sprayed with Pava spray, but it had no effect. Alexander Dighton was jailed for life after police attack He attacked Sgt Richard Coleman in the station foyer, hitting him in the head with the pole, and then punched Det Con Joshua Emlyn. At this point three police officers attempted to restrain Dighton, and he stabbed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg, wounding him. Dighton represented himself in court at a previous hearing and admitted attempted murder with a knife, attempted arson, attacking two other police officers, and threatening a third - pleading guilty to a total of 10 charges. Two officers were treated in hospital for their injuries. The judge told the Old Bailey today that the officers were in a state of shock and some thought they were going to die. Police believe Dighton began planning his attack a month before the incident.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment thug attacks cops with Molotov cocktail & knife in police station rampage – as he shrugs off 50,000-volt Taser
THIS is the moment a yob attacked cops with a Molotov cocktail, knife and a hatchet in a police station rampage over his "grudge" with authority. Alexander Dighton, who had been referred to the anti-terrorism programme Prevent in January 2024, attacked three police officers at Talbot Green police station in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. 7 Alexander Dighton carried out a rampage at a police station 7 He managed to resist being Tasered before attacking police 7 Dighton has now been jailed for life Credit: PA The 28-year-old knifed one of the cops in the leg and knocked another unconscious after storming the station. Footage released today shows Dighton first trying to hurl a firebomb at a police van but when it did not ignite, he started a blaze by pouring lighter fluid on the vehicle. The thug was then captured smashing the windows on two cars using a pole before terrified officers: "I'm fed up, I'm done". He managed to shake off the 50,000-volt Taser fired at him before continuing to smash the windows of the police station. Dighton has now been locked up for life with a minimum of 22 years after pleading guilty to ten charges related to the January 31 attack. The Old Bailey was told he had developed a "grudge" against authority and believed he was "damned from birth". Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn said his 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. During the attack on the police station, officers attempted to Taser him but it had no effect. Most read in The Sun He swung a pole at one officer and punched one in the head during the savage attack. Dighton then knifed Det Con Jack Cotton in the leg - narrowly missing his femoral artery - as three cops attempted to restrain him. When officers searched him, they found Dighton was wearing body armour and was carrying a hatchet in his bag. He later told police he did not consider the scope of damage, "merely that blood had to be spilt". The thug also admitted he was motivated by an anti-government ideology but denied intending to kill a police officer. Dighton said: "Authority is not my problem. It's the use of authority which to me is the problem, the use of authority I have seen since I was 15, that's my problem." He admitted the attempted murder of Detective Constable Jack Cotton, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Richard Coleman, assaulting Pc Joshua Emlyn and threatening Pc Stephanie Fleming with an adapted wooden pole. Dighton also pleaded guilty to the attempted arson of a police van, two counts of damaging police property and having an adapted wooden pole, a knife and a hatchet. Speaking after the case, Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service said Dighton wanted to attack the Government and the state. Read more on the Irish Sun "We were able to show that Dighton's attack was not only pre-meditated and meticulously planned, but that his motivations were connected to terrorism. "While it is not a criminal offence to hold extreme or offensive views, it is one to carry out attempted murder and attack police officers because of them." 7 Dighton first attempted to firebomb a police car Credit: SWNS 7 He went to the station with a cache of weapons Credit: SWNS 7 Dighton was sprayed with Pave but remained undeterred 7 He was wearing bullet proof armour Credit: SWNS
