Moment policewoman is left temporarily blind and struggling to breathe after being pepper sprayed by man while attending an assault call out

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:05, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 22:05, 28 July 2026 This is the horrifying moment a police officer was left blinded and struggling to breathe after she was viciously assaulted with pepper spray. Footage shows Ionut Spanache spraying Police Constables Hollie and Molly as they attended an address in Luton, Bedfordshire following reports of a domestic assault on May 17. Captured on body-worn video, the officers can be seen knocking on the door seconds before Spanache sprayed them with the synthetic pepper spray substitute, causing them to flee for their safety.  The footage shows PC Hollie stating she could not see, with the toxic substance causing her temporary blindness and gasping for air.  Both officers feared they had been the victims of an acid attack, not knowing what the 'noxious substance' was. PC Hollie said: 'As we arrived at the address our priority was to get into the property and ensure everyone was okay.  'Neither of us could have anticipated what happened next. There was no time to protect ourselves. 'As we ran from the property, I could feel a burning sensation that progressively got worse until I couldn't see and began struggling to catch my breath. My initial thought was that we'd been attacked with acid. 'It's hard to describe how painful and distressing this experience was, but I am grateful for the immediate actions of PC Molly and those who witnessed the aftermath.  'The support I received from colleagues was crucial in getting back to work, and I'm pleased to have been present at Spanache's sentencing and share first-hand the impact of assaults on officers.' This is the horrifying moment a police officer was left blinded and struggling to breathe after she was viciously assaulted with pepper spray at an address in Luton, Bedfordshire PC Hollie was left with temporary blindness and gasping for air after the shocking assault Ionut Spanache was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency worker, possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, and actual bodily harm Spanache, 31, from Luton, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency worker, possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, and actual bodily harm. He was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on July 17 to two years' imprisonment. Despite also experiencing a burning sensation to her face and hands, PC Molly quickly came to her colleague's aid by clearing the substance from PC Hollie's eyes and mouth while calling for help from residents and passersby. PC Molly said: 'What should have been a routine call very quickly became an incident I will never forget. 'In that moment, I knew I needed to remain calm in order to keep PC Hollie calm too. My priority was making sure she was safe and getting her the help she needed as quickly as possible. 'There is simply no excuse for what Spanache did that day, and I'm glad he has received a custodial sentence.' Superintendent Rachael Glendenning said: 'The assault of any emergency worker is abhorrent, and attacks on police officers carrying out their duties are especially concerning. The footage showed the moment he was placed into handcuffs and led away from the scene 'Last month, we saw 33 officers seriously assaulted over the course of just seven days, with a number of officers requiring hospital treatment. 'Our officers regularly place themselves in challenging and unpredictable situations to protect others.  'However, no one should be subjected to violence of any degree, and we will always pursue offenders who think this is an acceptable response to police intervention. 'I am pleased Spanache has been brought to justice, and I hope this outcome demonstrates that the courts take violence against emergency workers seriously.' On average, almost 30 Bedfordshire Police officers are assaulted every month while on duty.