Shocking moment estate agent lunges at cop with TWO knives after flying into a rage over losing his £42k job

THE shocking moment a raging estate agent lunged at a police officer with TWO knives after losing his £42K job has been caught on camera.

Tony Buttigieg, 36, was jailed today for attacking a police officer who called at his home in south Wales.

A court heard he was raging after losing his £42,800-a-year job as a manager for an estate agents due to a drink driving arrest.

Buttigieg was tasered by officers - but lunged at PC Rhydian Jones with two knives in a "repeated and determined attack.";

Shocking bodycam footage shows the moment Buttigieg thrusted the knives at the stab vest of PC Jones before he was tackled to the ground.

A court heard neighbours called police after Buttigieg banged on their doors claiming that "someone was after him."

Prosecutor Michael Jones said Buttigieg was "frantic in his behaviour and actions" when he knocked on the door of a neighbour.

Mr Jones said: "He said that someone was after him. He said he had seen in the internet that there was a £1.5million bounty on his head. He said he couldn't use his phone as someone had tapped it."

The court heard PC Jones, of Gwent Police, was not hurt physically in the attack but believed Buttigieg was going to kill him.

Mr Jones said: "The attack was sudden but mercifully short lived. This was largely due to the size and height of Rhydian Jones."

The court heard when officers asked Buttigieg to put down the knives he said: "You are not real police officers, you are trying to get me."

When Buttigieg was arrested on October 2 last year he had cocaine and benzodiazepine in his system.

In the three months leading up to the attack he had lost his job and also suffered a relationship breakdown.

Defending David Leathley said: "He was temporarily not in his right mind."

Swansea Crown Court heard Buttigieg had been suffering a psychotic episode at the time of the attack.

He had been looking on the internet when a gambling pop-up appeared saying £1.5m - which he believed was a bounty on him.

In a victim impact statement PC Jones said: "I genuinely feared for my life. I thought Mr Buttigieg was going to kill me. I think about it every day."

Buttigieg, of Caerleon, Newport, south Wales, was charged with attempted murder but pleaded not guilty.

But he pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to four years in prison at Swansea Crown court.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said: "Knives can and frequently do kill. Your intended victim was a police officer, a public servant doing his public duty protecting his community.

"I cannot, and do not, ignore the psychological impact on the officer and his family.

"This was a one off episode in peculiar and particular circumstances.

"I genuinely believe that you are horrified by what you have seen in the body cam footage.

"You are not the man now that you were at the time of this dreadful episode."

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Wilkie said: “Luckily, the outcome wasn’t fatal but nonetheless it was traumatic for all those involved.

"Tony Buttigieg acted with blatant disregard for both the public and attending officers which is totally unacceptable.

“The body worn video footage is particularly harrowing to watch and reminds us of the risks officers face every day, when officers are simply carrying out their duty.

"Our officers showed exceptional professionalism and bravery when confronted by an intoxicated, agitated man in possession of two large knives, taking decisive action and courageously protecting the public from possible harm.”

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