A LANCASTER PC needed emergency surgery after being stabbed in the hand during a violent struggle with a prisoner in a police van. PC David Bell suffered the injury after James Harkin lunged at his face with a butterfly knife Preston Crown Court heard. The officer put his hand up and it took the full force of the blow. Harkin had been arrested following a domestic disturbance outside his mother's house in Keswick Road, Lancaster. During the journey to Lancaster Police Station, Harkin caused a disturbance in the police van and lunged at officers as they tried to handcuff him.

Harkin, 33, of Hubert Place, Lancaster, pleaded guilty to wounding PC Bell with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and attempting to unlawfully wound PC Graham Wharrier.

The judge, Mrs Justice Steel, ordered that Harkin be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

He will not be released without the approval of the Home Secretary.

Mrs Justice Steel said: "I am satisfied this is for the protection of the public."

Roger Baldwin, prosecuting, told the court that police arrested Harkin on as he argued with his mother and stepfather outside their home. As he was being driven to the station Harkin began banging on the door.

Mr Baldwin said: "The officers decided, not least for the safety of the defendant, to handcuff him.

PC Wharrier asked him to hold his hands out but Harkin lunged brandishing a butterfly knife.

"He then lunged at PC Bell and the officer put up his left hand to protect his face."

Mr Baldwin said that PC Bell needed surgery to repair a severed tendon in his left hand.

"He was extremely fortunate not to be more seriously injured", he added.

Dr Ian Wilson, a forensic psychiatrist, told the court that Harkin was suffering from the mental illness paranoid schizophrenia. He was a risk to the public if he did not receive treatment.

Stephen Riordan QC, defending, said Harkin had been before the court in 1994 for a similar offence against a police woman.

On that occasion, doctors had assessed his mental condition and found him fit to be dealt with within the prison system as opposed to being sent to hospital for treatment.

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