A MAN has been handed a three-year prison sentence after viciously assaulting two police officers in Bournemouth.

Hamish Alton Ellis, also known as Amen Melchizedek, 46, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm at Bournemouth Crown Court on May 12.

PC Sarah Donnelly and PC Carri King attended a report of a disturbance involving a man and a woman in Iddlesleigh Road in Bournemouth at 9.09am on Thursday, December 26.

When they approached Ellis, of Webbs Way, in an attempt to arrest him, he struck PC King in the face and knocked her to the ground. He then continued to kick her while she was on the pavement.

Ellis then swung his arms and deliberately punched PC Donnelly to the face knocking her off balance.

Additional officers arrived and arrested Ellis.

Both officers were taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries. PC King sustained a fracture to her face and PC Donnelly sustained a possible fractured nose.

In her statement, PC Sarah Donnelly said: “The events of what happened in the moments after we got out of the police car will stay with me forever.

“The pain I have felt in my nose since the incident has continued. I can constantly feel it, day and night.

“I have not been back to work since the incident and I am constantly worrying about how I will feel when I do return to work.

“I had always wanted to be a police officer and I have led my life in such a way that this goal could be achieved.

“I do this job because of people like Ellis, because some people are unable to stand up to such a bully and a coward like he is.

“I am proud to say I am a police officer and, for as long as I do this job, I will continue to help protect the public against people like him.”

PC Carri King said: “I still to this day do not understand how one human can do that to another human with no thought of their actions and the consequences that this could have on them.

“The effects that this has had on me have been like living a nightmare each and every day. It has affected me so much, the pain that I endured at the time was so intense, my mouth and teeth felt like they had been ripped from my face.

“Devastatingly for me my nightmare does not end. I have got endless amounts of check-ups and further treatments needed physically and mentally to get me back to the person I was before."

At the sentencing hearing, the judge praised the courage of the officers in describing their injuries. He also recognised that they are both dedicated and committed officers and will be giving them a Judge’s Commendation.

Chief constable James Vaughan, of Dorset Police, added: “Hamish Ellis carried out a vicious and sustained attack on two of our officers who were just simply trying to do their job.

“I would like to praise both PC King and PC Donnelly for their bravery and courage, not only at the incident, but also while reading their statements in court.”