POLICE have defended their decision to use a Taser gun on Florence Thomson after she threatened officers with a knife after stabbing her husband.
A statement released by Lincolnshire Police following Mrs Thomson’s sentencing describes the scene that greeted officers called to the couple’s home on November 11 last year.
It said: “Mrs Thomson was holding a knife, she was acting aggressively towards the officers and raised the knife as she approached them.
“Despite being told to put the knife down on more than occasion, she failed to do so. She had already caused injuries to herself with the knife.
“Her husband was in a bedroom at the address suffering from serious and life-threatening injuries.
“The use of the Taser was necessary to prevent Mrs Thomson injuring herself further, to prevent her from injuring the attending officers, but most critically to allow for immediate medical attention to be rendered to her husband who officers knew was elderly and had been stabbed multiple times.
“Had the officers not acted so quickly, it was possible that the injuries to Mr Thomson may have proved fatal.”
Det Insp Dave Rimmer, who led the investigation, said: “I have no doubt that the quick actions of the officers in using the Taser prevented further injury or even death in these circumstances.
“The decision to use the Taser was the most appropriate and proportionate means of force necessary to gain control of the situation.”
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