Alexander Dighton admits attempted murder of police officer in Wales

28 March 2025, 14:37 | Updated: 28 March 2025, 17:24

A man has admitted to attempting to murder a police officer during a frenzied attack motivated by an anti-government ideology.

Alexander Dighton injured three officers during a rampage outside Talbot Green Police Station in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, on 31 January.

The 28-year-old launched the attack after arming himself with body armour, a Molotov cocktail, a knife, a hatchet and a wooden pole.

He was captured on CCTV walking towards the station just before 7pm before he lit a firebomb and threw it at a police van.

However, when it failed to ignite, Dighton got a second bottle from his rucksack, poured its contents on the van's bonnet and attempted to set it alight. He also started a small fire under the van.

Dighton then used the wooden pole to smash the van's windows before turning his attention to attack another police vehicle.

When officers rushed outside and ordered him to drop his weapons, he refused and said: "I'm fed up, I'm done."

Police tried to Taser and spray him, which had little effect, partly due to the body armour he was wearing.

Dighton then attacked the officers as they attempted to restrain him. He stabbed one of them in the leg, punched another in the head and swung his pole at another.

Two of the three officers had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

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Following his arrest, he claimed to have been motivated by an anti-government ideology.

Appearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, Dighton, from Llantrisant, pleaded guilty to 10 charges including the attempted murder of a police officer, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, assault, attempted arson, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage.

He rejected the opportunity to be legally represented, despite being informed that the maximum sentence he could face was life in prison.

Dighton told Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb: "Authority is not my problem. It's the use of authority which to me is the problem, the use of authority I have seen since I was 15, that's my problem."

The court heard that Dighton had no previous convictions - and it was questioned whether he had Asperger syndrome or a form of autism.

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 13 May.

The Counter Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service submitted to the court that his offences should be considered to have a terrorist connection because he had been motivated by an anti-government ideology.