A LANCASTER man stabbed a policeman with a knife and tried to injure another officer during a struggle in the back of a police van, a court has heard. James Harkin, 33, of Hubert Place, Lancaster, pleaded guilty to wounding PC David Bell with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and attempting to unlawfully wound PC Graham Wharrier when he appeared before Preston Crown Court on Monday.
The offences occurred after Harkin had been arrested following an incident in Lancaster in April. He had been placed in the police van when he lunged at PC Bell with a butterfly knife and tried to injure PC Wharrier who came to his colleague's assistance.
Sentence was adjourned until Friday to allow a psychiatrist to give evidence about Harkin's mental state. Mrs Justice Steel remanded Harkin in custody. She told him that he had admitted two offences of "serious violence" and was likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act when being sentenced.
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