A man has been jailed for an unprovoked assault on a Liverpool police officer.
Jake Linton attacked Merseyside Police sergeant Jack Woodward as he tried to arrest another man in the city’s Ropewalks area on October 3 last year.
The 3am incident saw Linton, 21, attack Woodward from behind and punch him in the side of the head, knocking the on-duty officer to the floor unconscious.
Sgt Woodward, now a temporary inspector, suffered several broken bones in the attack, which still carries physical symptons despite undergoing surgery.
Linton, from Rugby in Warwickshire, was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to eight months in prison for his act of wanton violence.
Chief Superintendent Zoe Thornton, head of local policing, said: “This was an unprovoked and violent assault on a police officer who was simply carrying out his duties, protecting people and upholding the law.
“He required hospital treatment following the incident and while he is now back serving the public of Merseyside it is clear that this assault has had a long lasting impact on both his physical and mental health.
“I hope today’s sentencing provides him some comfort and the Force will continue to provide him with all the support we can.
“Police officers join the police because they want to give something back to the community and keep their communities safe.
“Sadly, this incident highlights the dangers officers face every single day, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the wider public from dangerous individuals.
“Officers frequently find themselves in challenging situations, and when officers join the police service they know the risks they will face.
“But they still make the decision to join up, and put themselves on the front line protecting our communities every day.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officer involved and his colleagues for the bravery they showed on the day.
“I also want to thank all those detectives involved in investigating this assault, and the Crown Prosecution Service, who helped bring Linton to justice.”