'I thought I was going to die...' - Police officer recounts near-death experience

Horrific images have been released that share the disturbing reality of frontline policing after an officer suffered a serious head injury and bruising to the brain following the attack.

The Lancashire officer, PC Ashley Aspinall ended up staying in hospital for 11 days, with many of his colleagues believing that he might die.

The injuries also kept Ashely out of work for a further four months before he was able to return as a response officer in Blackpool.

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Ashley and his colleagues came across his attacker Ian Scott while attending an unrelated incident in Blackpool on April 7.

Scott was being removed from a bar at the time, and was being abusive to staff as he attempted to retrieve his phone.

While police colleagues went into the bar and attempted to retrieve his phone, Scott behaviour started to escalate becoming verbally abusive.

With the situation worsening attempts were made to detain and arrest him. However, this interaction led to Ashley being on the pavement with Scott on top of him.

While Ashley was on the floor losing blood from the back of his head, Scott continued to deliver verbal abuse, mocking and abusing the unconscious officer, whilst he was being given life-saving treatment.

Scott, of Cavendish Road, Bispham, was arrested and later charged with a Section 18 assault and assaulting a police officer. He pleaded guilty to a Section 20 wounding of an emergency service worker and appeared at Preston Crown Court on July 30.

The 50-year-old was given a 24-month suspended sentence and also ordered to complete a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement, 15 Rehabilitation Activity