Brothers sentenced for attacking police officers 

Two brothers who viciously attacked two police officers at a shopping centre in West Bromwich have been jailed.

Parminder Hunjan, 37, and Maninder Hunjan, 26, were sentenced today (9 May 2022) at Wolverhampton Crown Court for attacking PC Leon Mittoo and PC James Willetts in New Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich, on 21 July last year.

Parminder Hunjan was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of four years.

Maninder Hunjan was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of four years.

The police officers were patrolling Queens Square Shopping Centre when they spotted the brothers carrying large black backpacks and wearing thick coats and gloves in the summer. When PC Mittoo and PC Leon approached the brothers to carry out stop checks, the brothers attacked the officers with knives.

The brothers were disarmed and restrained after a brief but ferocious struggle in which both officers were fortunate to sustain only minor cuts. In addition to the knives used to attack the officers, their backpacks contained a machete, hammers, imitation firearms, balaclavas, gloves, and a smoke grenade.

The defendants were found guilty of their offences following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 31 March 2022. Parminder Hunjan was convicted of wounding PC Leon Mittoo and PC James Willetts with intent, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. His brother Maninder was convicted of guilty of wounding PC James Willetts with intent and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Both had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of offensive weapons.

Douglas Marshall of the CPS said: ‘It is not clear why Parminder and Maninder Hunjan reacted with such ferocity when approached by the officers last summer, but what is apparent is that they were ready to resort to the use of knives at a moment’s notice.

"Regardless, the officers unhesitatingly put themselves in harm’s way and through their brave actions the pair were disarmed. PCs Mittoo and Willetts suffered relatively minor wounds as a result of their actions, but given the arsenal of weapons the brothers were carrying, the potential outcome could have been much worse.
 
“Today shows not only that carrying knives will not be condoned, but that violent acts against those whose job it is to protect the public will result in significant prison sentences.”