A police officer broke down in a restaurant while having a meal with his wife and child after picking up a glass bottle triggered him to have a panic attack.
PC Ian Hide had to leave the eatery following the incident, which came after he was involved in a terrifying knife attack. This saw drunken thug Thomas McComish attempt to stab his Merseyside Police colleague, whose life was saved when the blows were deflected by his handcuffs.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that Lola Green and Shaun Brennan were standing at a bus stop on Parr Street in St Helens shortly before 9.30pm on December 5 last year when they were approached by McComish, who shouted "you daft b****" at them. Anthony O'Donohoe, prosecuting, described how they initially ignored McComish but then noticed he was carrying a knife in his right hand and a bottle in his left and ran away fearing they would be attacked.
The 34-year-old followed them however, chasing them into a nearby car park. There, Ms Green and Mr Brennan spotted two police cars and alerted officers to the incident.
McComish, of Morgan Street, was located on Parr Mount Street - at which point he brandished a large carving knife. PC Ian Hide shouted for him to drop the weapon, but he responded by throwing the bottle towards him.
The missile did not land however, and the officer threw the item back as the attacker lunged at him. PC Hide then tripped over a kerb and fell during a scuffle, leaving McComish "towering over him".
He "believed he was about to be seriously attacked and possibly killed" before his colleague, PC John Rimmer, came to his aid. The knifeman stabbed twice at the the second officer, who "felt the force of the contact" on the left-hand side of his torso and responded by punching his assailant in the face.
McComish, who "smelled strongly of alcohol" and was suspected of being under the influence of drugs, was knocked unconscious at this point. PC Rimmer was described as being "pale and in shock", but realised that the blade had not in fact pierced his skin - having apparently been deflected by the fortuitous positioning of his handcuffs.
PC Hide suffered a broken left wrist during the incident, with the ex-army engineer left on desk duties and unable to play with his young child or perform simple tasks such as turning door handles or opening jars. A statement read out to the court on his behalf said: "I don't feel like the confident, robust individual I was prior to the events of that night.
"It was a job that, as a police officer, you pray you never have to go to. It will stay with me for the rest of my life.
"I can't believe I survived. There remains a large piece of me missing."
PC Hide also described suffering a panic attack while out for a meal with his wife and baby a few days later and having to leave the restaurant. This was triggered by him picking up a glass bottle for the first time since the incident, with the officer adding: "The last bottle I had held was when I had to fight for my life."
He also avoids using large knives when cooking and described the assault as "life changing". PC Hide stated he "felt guilty" for involving his fellow officer, saying: "What if they had been stabbed or killed?
"Who is he to think he has the right to try and harm me and innocent members of the public minding their own business? Nothing will ever taken away what happened - I am certain that, in the absence of the police, the defendant would have at least stabbed a member of the public."
PC Rimmer meanwhile was left unable to work for three weeks and suffering from insomnia and flashbacks. His statement added: "I became a shadow of myself."
McComish - who also served in the forces for five years before leaving on medical grounds - was taken to Aintree Hospital having sustained a broken nose and a fractured eye socket, which will leave his eyesight permanently damaged. He continued to behave "aggressively" towards paramedics in the ambulance en route, then told hospital staff: "If you do that to me you will lose some teeth."
His five previous convictions for six offences include charges of possession of indecent images, drunk and disorderly behaviour, possession of cannabis and travelling on a railway without paying a fare. Christopher Stables, defending, told the court: "There is frank acceptance on the part of the defendant that this is an extremely serious case.
"On any view, it was a frightening and potentially dangerous incident. The commission of this offence is out of character for this defendant.
"The incident occurred while the defendant was very highly intoxicated, such that he has no recollection of the incident or the lead up to the incident at all. The fact he was heavily intoxicated can never excuse what occurred, but it may help to understand why this occurred and why the defendant behaved in a manner he has never behaved before."
McComish admitted two counts of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm during an earlier hearing. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse wearing a grey Nike jumper and glasses, he was jailed for seven years and nine months and handed an additional four years on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "That incident must have been utterly terrifying for these officers and utterly terrifying for members of the public who witnessed what you were doing. It goes without saying how dangerous your behaviour was."
Deputy chief constable Ian Critchley said following the sentencing: "My message to those who carry out violence against police is clear - please remember, whatever you think of us, one day you or your families may need our help too."
READ NEXT: Man stamped on stranger's head after asking him for money
Paedophile said 'oops' when confronted about gaps in his internet history
Man stabbed neighbour in the chest after noise dispute
Mum hurled racist abuse at volunteer before stealing hospital's Christmas tree
Man hid from police on roof after cannabis farm found in home
