Man jailed for stabbing policewoman in head

Man jailed for stabbing policewoman in head

Stuart Woodward - at Chelmsford Crown Court; Ellis Whitehouse

Mon, December 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM UTC

3 min read

A police officer said she was living "every day" with the after effects of being stabbed in the head by a man she was trying to help.

Declan Diedrick, 25, was suffering a psychotic episode as he attacked two officers in Harlow, Essex, on 29 December 2023.

He stabbed PC Hollie Matthews in the head when she and a colleague tried to get him to put down a seven-inch kitchen knife. Diedrick, from Hull Grove in the town, has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.

"I was just trying to help, to do my job," said PC Matthews.

PC Matthews was stabbed just above her ear and the wound had to be glued.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Andrew Bird, KC, the officer said she thought about the attack every day, trying to figure out "why did [Diedrick] want to hurt me?".

"I had to sit in my own blood for days; I couldn't wash my hair — it was matted together with blood," she said.

The officer said she had been worried that if she had not tried to help Diedrick, she would have faced an internal police investigation afterwards.

"You call the police during the worst moments of your life, but I've been called to one of the worst [moments] of mine," she said.

She added that the emotional toll ran "deeper than any wound".

Acting Sgt Gemma Sandy witnessed the attack and was injured, but did not require hospital treatment.

In her victim impact statement, she said: "I know I acted in the best way I could.

"I'm so proud of how Hollie acted, but I still feel guilt about the whole thing. I was part of a horrific attack."

During his sentencing, prosecution and defence agreed Diedrick's psychotic episode would have had an impact on his judgement, which would have been exacerbated by his use of illegal drugs.

Defendant now has 'real remorse'

Mitigating for Diedrick, Colin Aylott KC said his client had been living with un-diagnosed mental health conditions.

He said Diedrick had tried to seek medical help a number of times between October and December 2023, but a professional intervention "didn't happen".

"There was a degree of self-awareness, certainly on behalf of his family, of the risks of his behaviour," Mr Aylott said.

The barrister said Diedrick's condition was now improving with the use of anti-psychotic medication.

Diedrick has also written a private letter to PC Matthew, which Mr Aylott said demonstrated "real remorse and regret".

'Your family did the right thing'

The Honourable Mr Justice Bourne accepted Diedrick had mental health issues, but said he was still "able to form an intent to cause serious harm".

He agreed with psychiatric evidence that there was a "significant risk" Diedrick would commit further offences and serious harm.

He commended the officers' bravery and hoped "in due course they'll be able to put this incident behind them".

"We depend on people like them. They go into situations like this at risk to themselves."

The judge also credited Diedrick's family for trying to get him help.

On top of the five-year jail term, Diedrick will have to spend a further three years on licence upon his release.

He was found not guilty of two counts of attempted murder.

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Man jailed for stabbing policewoman in head