A man has been jailed after two police officers sustained knife injuries in Hemel Hempstead.

Jack Watts, 20, was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Friday (February 24), after pleading guilty to possession of a bladed article, section 20 GBH and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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The incident took place on Tuesday, January 10, when police received a call reporting that a woman could be heard screaming in the old town area of Hemel Hempstead.

Officers attended and located the woman, who appeared to be suffering from a medical episode.

While officers assisted the woman, they were approached by Watts.

According to Hertfordshire police, he became "aggressive and obstructive" when officers asked him to leave.

During a struggle, two officers were injured by an unsheathed knife protruding from Watts’ jacket pocket.

One officer sustained a wound to his forearm, while the second sustained slashes to his fingers.

Watts was then arrested, before being charged and remanded into custody.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 11.

He was jailed and ordered to pay £200 in compensation at Luton Crown Court, on Friday.

DS Yolanda Morales-Willis said: "This was a very distressing incident for the officers involved, who were simply trying to assist a woman who needed their help.

                                                                                                                                

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“Thankfully they weren’t seriously injured, but this is just one example of how officers put themselves in harms way every single day to help protect our local communities.

“I am pleased that Watts pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and will now be spending time behind bars.”