A police officer who was seriously injured after being struck in the face with a brick has expressed disgust after his attacker was released just days after being sentenced. PC Conor McIntyre was left bloodied, bruised, and severely concussed following an unprovoked assault in Lancaster, Lancashire, by repeat offender George Jacob.
The Attack and Sentence
Jacob, 42, of no fixed address, was handed a 20-month prison sentence at Sessions House, Preston Crown Court, after admitting to Section 20 wounding, assault on a police officer, and criminal damage. However, PC McIntyre, a husband and father of seven years of service, was dismayed to learn that Jacob was released just 16 days later.
PC McIntyre said: "This news was a real kick in the teeth. It has added insult to my injuries. This disgusting decision has given me no confidence in the justice system. I have been a police officer for nearly seven years. I love my job and I'm good at it, but this incident has caused me to re-evaluate my career as a constable."
Details of the Incident
Disturbing CCTV footage from the incident on November 22, 2025, shows the window of the police vehicle shattering after Jacob hurled a brick at PC McIntyre following the seizure of his electric motorbike during a routine stop. Jacob can be seen sprinting towards the car, launching the brick, before making off on foot.
PC McIntyre sustained severe concussion, two chipped teeth, a laceration to his face, and required glass fragments to be removed from his face. Harrowing police body camera footage reveals the officer's face and uniform drenched in blood as he sits in the back of a police car. Further footage shows him lying in agony inside an ambulance, with wounds visible on the left side of his face and blood seeping from his mouth. During the attack, PC McIntyre triggered his vehicle's emergency button to alert colleagues.
PC McIntyre said: "Luckily my colleagues got there pretty quickly, but my recollection of that time is non-existent, really." He was taken to hospital, where medics treated his wounds. Fortunately, his eyesight was not permanently affected, though he continues to carry facial scarring and still requires dental treatment to repair his teeth. After the attack, he was signed off work before being placed on restricted duties, eventually returning to frontline policing. He stated: "I've got a young daughter at home, and it was hard for her seeing how much of a mess my face was."
Victim Impact Statement
In a victim impact statement delivered to the court, PC McIntyre described Jacob as "spineless". He continued: "I want to help people, protect victims and put those who don't belong on the streets away, but when my safety is put on the line and my ability to provide for my wife and daughter is jeopardised by such a cowardly act, it has made me feel like it's no longer worth it. I feel angry towards the defendant that rather than standing in front of me and seeing that I'm not just a Police Officer in uniform, I'm a friend, husband and a father, he spinelessly threw a brick and ran off, failing to face the consequences of his actions."
Early Release and Reaction
On 14 April this year, Jacobs received a sentence of 15 months imprisonment, in addition to the five months he had already completed on remand. During sentencing, Detective Inspector Adie Knowles, of Lancaster CID, declared that assaulting a police officer is "not and never will be acceptable". It was revealed that his criminal history comprised 70 previous offences. However, only 16 days after the custodial sentence, he was identified for early release. PC McIntyre commented: "The force and the Federation have been a brilliant support, and the force tried to push back on the offender being released. I told the Chief Inspector, and he was absolutely disgusted with it, so they tried to put some pressure on the prison, but it didn't work. That length of sentence is not much of a deterrent, plus he's a serial offender."
Statistics and Federation Concerns
In Lancashire, 389 police officers faced assault last year, while across the UK 48,888 officers were attacked over the same period, according to Lancashire Police Federation (LPF). Martin Midgley, chair of the LPF, said: "There needs to be a clear message sent out that officers should not be assaulted just for doing their jobs. We need to protect our protectors and provide a visible and consistent deterrent against these despicable crimes. As well as the effect of these assaults on officers' mental health, to then feel let down by the criminal justice system is terrible. If you assault a police officer, there should be no early release from prison."
