A Bolton man who was drunk in the street had a dog which got out of control and viciously attacked a police officer leaving her traumatised.

Police Constable Michelle Murphy was on her was to an emergency call when she came across Bodeane Rostron on Thicketford Road in the town.

Bolton Crown Court heard she thought he might be dead in the street and so went to see him.

But as she did she noticed the presence of two English bulldogs.

Andrew Molloy, prosecuting, said: “The larger of the dogs grabbed ran to PC Murphy and grabbed her left leg.

“It dragged her to the floor.”

He said another officer repeatedly punched it to the face but this was unable to get it off.

It was only after the dog was pepper sprayed that contact was broken.

Mr Molloy added: “At no point did the defendant try to regain control of his dog or help PC Murphy.”

Eventually it took four officers and the spraying of a fire extinguisher to gain control of the animal.

PC Murphy was left in need of counselling for PTSD and physiotherapy as a result of the incident.

She was left with scarring on her thighs and has been told sensation in the area may not return.

She read a victim impact statement to the court, in which she said: “It is my honest feeling that I wish I had not helped you, I wish I had driven past you.

“You did not show an ounce of concern towards me.”

She said she could have lost her life and her children could have lost their mother.

Rostron, 37, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting having a dog which was dangerously out of control in injured the PC during the incident on September 18 last year.

He addressed the police officer from the dock and said: “I am sorry, I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”

Martin Sharpe, defending, added that he had caring responsibilities for his young son and employed three people in a landscape gardening business who would lose their jobs if he went to prison.

Recorder Simon Hilton, imposing a sentence, said he did not pose a danger to the public.

He said: “My view is that you are someone who poses a low risk.

“The risk that eventuated on this occasion came from your dugs and your inability to control them.”

He said the balance came down “in favour of a suspended sentence.”

He suspended a sentence of a year for two years and order Rostron, from Firwood Grove, Bolton, to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He also banned him from keeping dogs and ordered the destruction of Bobo, the dog which attacked the officer.

As well as this he ordered Rostron to pay £7,350.

£3,000 of this is compensation to the officer and £4,350 represented the cost of keeping Bobo in a kennel since the incident.