When was PC Hollie Matthews stabbed?

PC Hollie Matthews was stabbed on December 29, 2023.

What was the sentence for Declan Diedrick?

Declan Diedrick received a five-year jail sentence for grievous bodily harm.

How did the stabbing affect PC Matthews?

PC Matthews experiences daily after-effects, both emotional and physical, from the head wound.

Home / Crime and Justice / Officer Stabbed During Welfare Check Now Lives With Trauma

Officer Stabbed During Welfare Check Now Lives With Trauma

8 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Officer Hollie Matthews was stabbed in the head while helping a man in a psychotic episode.
The officer experiences daily after-effects and questions the motive for the attack.
The attacker, Declan Diedrick, was sentenced to five years for grievous bodily harm.

Officer Stabbed During Welfare Check Now Lives With Trauma

A police officer is enduring the daily aftermath of a traumatic head stabbing incident that occurred on December 29, 2023, while she was attempting to assist an individual in distress. PC Hollie Matthews sustained the injury above her ear from a seven-inch kitchen knife wielded by Declan Diedrick, 25, during a psychotic episode.

Diedrick has been sentenced to five years imprisonment after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm. PC Matthews expressed in a victim impact statement the ongoing emotional and physical struggle, including the difficulty of washing her matted hair and the persistent questioning of the motive behind the attack. She felt compelled to help, fearing an internal investigation if she hadn't.