A MAN who left a police officer needing surgery has been spared an immediate prison sentence after telling a judge he has completely given up alcohol.

Judge Richard Gioserano told Shaun Kelly that he remained “sceptical” about the assertion but opted to give him a chance to prove himself rather than sending him to prison for a short time.

Kelly, aged 35, of Montserrat Road, Johnson Fold, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to PC Craig Rimmer, who had been trying to help him.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Kelly has attacked police officers before when drinking.

But Michael James, defending, said he now cares for his mother, who has a brain tumour and his father, who has mental health issues and so has stopped drinking.

“His family situation has become such that he has to put them first,” said Mr James.

Simon Barrett, prosecuting, had previously told the court how police were called to the Montserrat Road address on July 18 last year and arrested Kelly on suspicion of assaulting his father.

But as Kelly was being transported to the police station in a van, officers noticed had tied a shoelace around his own neck.

They stopped the vehicle on Moss Bank Way and tried to restrain Kelly in order to remove the shoelace, but he kicked out at PC Rimmer, hitting him repeatedly in the legs and chest until the officer stumbled backwards and his right knee gave way.

Mr Barrett said the officer was left in “excruciating pain” with ruptured ligaments in his right knee and torn cartilage.

He faces reconstructive surgery and has not been able to fully resume his duties.

The court heard that Kelly has committed offences against police officers on at least four previous occasions, including one time when he ran towards officers brandishing a knife.

"His record does him no service but he has indicated, despite Your Honour's scepticism, that he's made progress with the underlying factors in this case, namely his use of alcohol," Mr James told Judge Gioserano.

Sentencing him to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, the judge told Kelly: "For whatever reason, you have had a long-standing drink problem and anger management issues and other people have paid the price for that.

"In particular, it seems to me, you have made a habit of taking your anger out on police.

"They are blameless, of course.

"PC Rimmer ended up with a very unpleasant injury indeed."

But he added: "I am prepared to accept you've got on top of the drinking for the moment.

"With that comes an opportunity which has not been there before."

He added that the public would be best served by Kelly working with the probation service to ensure his behaviour continues to change for the better rather than serve a relatively short custodial sentence.

As part of his sentence Kelly was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activities and participate in an alcohol treatment programme.

Judge Gioserano added that he hopes PC Rimmer obtains compensation for his injuries.