Gleadless Valley attack: Sheffield PC Lisa Bates '˜doing better' after surgery
PC Bates was severely injured after being attacked attending to an incident in Gleadless Valley on Wednesday, April 13.
The comments come as Dr Billings and Heeley MP Louise Haigh took part in a walk to ‘reassure’ the people of Gleadless Valley.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThey stopped and chatted to residents and workers on Newfield Green shops this afternoon.
Ms Haigh said the ‘resilient’ community would ‘bounce back’ after the attack on PC Bates and a murder which happened just a day before.
Nathan Sumner, aged 35, of Plowright Close, Gleadless Valley, is accused of the attempted murder of PC Lisa Bates, six counts of assault by beating, a section 47 assault, two counts of making threats to kill, affray, threatening a person with a blade in a public place and the production of cannabis.
Sumner is accused of assaulting another officer on Plowright Close.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe is also alleged to have injured three other police officers at the Co-op on Blackstock Road, Newfield Green.
The manager said today that the three staff members who were on shift when the incident took place have taken time off work and can return when they feel ready.
Dr Billings told The Star: “Today is about showing support to the community and to reassure them that the police are doing everything they can and we want to reassure people that this was a really extraordinary and out of the blue.
“We’ve had these two really serious incidents recently and it makes it all seem all the more shocking.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOn the PC Bates’ condition, Dr Billings added: “She been in hospital and she’s had surgery and is doing better now.
“She is comfortable as she can be.
“We’ve been rallying round and people are sending in money which is fantastic.”
Heeley MP Louise Haigh said: “It’s been a huge shock to the community but the really strong feeling is this could have happened anywhere.
“This is a really strong and resilient community and we saw that with the downstairs neighbour Simon Ellis rescuing the police officer and saving her life and I’m confident that this community will bounce back.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCo-op manager Mike Poyser said: “We’ve arranged counselling for the whole team and we’ll see how we go from there.
“Those that were directly involved are going to be off until they are ready to come back.”
A murder investigation is also ongoing after 22-year-old Leigh-Anne Mahachi died from stab wounds on Tuesday, April 12.
Colchester man, Douglas Furusa, 37, has been charged with her murder.