A woman who attacked a police officer with a knife, slashing her across the face with the blade, has been jailed today (23 December) for four years eight months.
Hannah Smaile, 25, of Lister Court in Carlisle was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after admitting unlawfully and maliciously wounding a female officer with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm; and admitted assaulting a male officer, causing him actual bodily harm.
Smaile will also spend two years on extended license.
Smaile also pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening both officers with a knife
Officers attended Smaile’s home address in Lister Court in Carlisle on the morning of 28 May 2025 after Smaile had called the police.
Two officers attended and were engaging with Smaile when she appeared from a side room and lunged towards the female officer with a silver kitchen knife.
The officer backed away whilst shouting at Smaile to “get back” but became trapped in a corner.
Smaile continued thrusting the knife towards the female officer, slashing her across the nose.
The male officer struggled with Smaile who would not drop the knife, despite being repeatedly told to do so. She then thrust the knife towards the male officer in an attempt to injure him.
Smaile was then forced into a bedroom and the door held shut behind her until assistance could arrive.
Smaile then threw the knife out of the window, which was later recovered by police.
In her police interview, Smaile told officers she could not recall what had occurred, saying she had been smoking cannabis that morning.
The officer slashed across the face with the knife was taken to hospital, where she received eight stitches to her face.
Detective Constable Lisa Atkinson, Cumberland CID, was the investigating officer in this case. She said: “This was a horrific and completely unprovoked attack on officers who had attended the address following a request for help from the defendant.
“The responding officers had been nothing but courteous and professional in their approach to her before she attacked them.
“The officers both displayed exceptional bravery and courage in a situation they could never have foreseen until it occurred.
“No police officer should ever have to experience what both officers experienced that day – being attacked with a knife inside a small residence without any chance to escape the attacker.
“We hope this incident will serve as a stark reminder of the dangers police officers face whilst working to keep people safe.”