GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: The horrific injuries police officer suffered after Oundle man's punch

He was left with a bleed on the brain
Warning graphic contentWarning graphic content
Warning graphic content

These are the horrific injuries a police officer suffered after he was attacked by a violent Oundle man.

PC Leo Clarke, 24, was left with a bleed on the brain and feeling like a prisoner in his own home after he was punched by Joshua Gull in Peterborough on February 8.

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The Cambridgeshire officer had been deployed to an incident where Gull, 27, had become violent towards a family member.

The shocking injuries PC Clarke suffered.The shocking injuries PC Clarke suffered.
The shocking injuries PC Clarke suffered.

Gull, of Herne Road, became agitated and reacted angrily when the officer activated his body worn video camera and grabbed him before adopting a fighting stance to punch him to the head.

Yesterday (Wednesday) at Peterborough Crown Court Gull was jailed for a total of 20 months after admitting causing grievous bodily harm without intent.

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation, raised the case with Home Secretary Priti Patel on Twitter today.

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He said: "Home Secretary, @pritipatel let me introduce you to PC Leo Clarke from @CambsCops. He suffered life changing injuries when he was attacked on duty. His attacker got just 20 months in prison! This is not acceptable and it can’t go on.

The shocking injuries PC Clarke sufferedThe shocking injuries PC Clarke suffered
The shocking injuries PC Clarke suffered

"My colleagues keep getting let down by the Criminal Justice System.

"The system needs an overhaul, my colleagues put their lives on the line every day, the least they can expect in return is the support of the courts when they are the victims of such vicious and wicked assaults.

"On behalf of the 130,000 officers we represent I ask that you agree to review the system, I’m happy to work with you and @kitmalthouse in any way I can to improve things for my colleagues. We can’t go on like this, my colleagues deserve so much more. #ProtectTheProtectors."

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When PC Clarke returned to Thorpe Wood Police Station, a welfare check by a supervisor discovered he was squinting and had started to slur his words. He was taken to Peterborough City Hospital where it was found he had a bleed on the brain.

Joshua Gull has been jailed.Joshua Gull has been jailed.
Joshua Gull has been jailed.

While in custody, Gull told officers he regretted what he had done and had been suffering with his mental health.

PC Clarke underwent surgery and remained in hospital for five days before returning home, where he continues to recover.

He said: “This incident has left me feeling like a burden on everyone. I used to love driving but it’s hard now as I have to be driven everywhere in relation to things such as appointments or even to go to the shop. I feel like a prisoner as such in my own house because the recovery is so slow and I would really like to go out with my family but I can't due to the injury.

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“I used to love going out with friends, drinking, going to work and socialising but I can't do any of that now and that is really hard for me, just sitting at home and doing nothing. I was a really active person and for that now to be taken away, with the possibility that some of these injuries might never go away, makes me feel quite upset.”