A violent thug has been locked up for robbing a man in his 70s and stabbing a police officer in the hand.

Darren John Morris entered his victim’s home in Bitterne and told him his son had died and that he needed money to travel to the funeral, which was a lie.

Morris, 50, punched him repeatedly in the face when the man refused to give him money.

The man finally gave him £60 to stop the attack and was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

Morris was arrested on suspicion of robbery and released on conditional police bail while further enquiries were done.

The court heard how in an incident in July 2023, police went to Morris’ home address in Legion Close, Poole, concerning an alleged breach of his electronic tag.

However, Morris became confrontational and stabbed an officer in the hand causing minor injuries.

He was remanded into custody and pleaded guilty to the robbery, committed in May 2021, and assaulting an officer earlier this year.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court last week, he was jailed for eight years.

He must spend at least four and a half years in prison.

Following the sentencing, Police Staff Investigator Hannah Daish, who led the investigation, said: “The way in which Morris used such a despicable lie to try and entice money out of his victim was particularly abhorrent, as was the assault that took place on him in his own home, where he is entitled to be safe from harm.

“Morris’s reckless actions with a knife in the Bournemouth could have resulted in much more serious injuries and it is lucky that the officers involved were not more gravely injured.

“The police work hard to keep people safe, and we will not tolerate assaults or abuse at work – we do not accept that this is simply part of the job and will do everything we can to ensure those responsible will be brought to justice.

“We are pleased with this sentence today and that Morris is now in prison where he can’t harm anybody else.

“The judge noted that Morris presented a danger to the public and should serve time in custody, I hope that this result helps the victim to move forward with their life after enduring such a frightening ordeal.”