A HERO policewoman has been praised by a judge after she dived on a vicious dog to prevent two paramedics being attacked.

Brave PC Katie Whittaker, 26, suffered serious injuries to her wrist and thigh after she was savaged by the Staffordshire bull terrier.

Burnley Crown Court heard that a drunken, angry and "out of control", Giovanni Ligreci, 52, had made threats before he unleashed the dog.

Without thinking of her own safety PC Whittaker dived to stop the animal attacking the paramedics.

She took the full force of the dog to her arm and wrist as the terrier latched on to her.

Although she was able to shake the pet off it then immediately returned to maul her leg.

It was only when her colleague Sgt Mark Goodchild intervened by drawing his baton that the dog released its grip and fled the scene.

Police and paramedics had been called to Ligreci's house to help because his concerned partner believed he was having a epileptic fit.

But Ligreci turned down their help and set the dog on the emergency services who had come to his aid after shaking the animal's collar to wind it up.

Ligreci, of Birtwistle Street, Great Harwood, was jailed for four months after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm, being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury.

He had also breached a 12 month conditional discharge, which was imposed for battery.

Recorder Andrew Nuttall ordered that the dog be destroyed.

He praised PC Whittaker saying she had shown "great devotion to duty, putting herself between the dog and the ambulance technicians."

He added: "The officer upheld the good tradition of the police in this country and in particular in Lancashire.

"It must have been a terrifying experience for the crew and the officer and it's perhaps a mercy she wasn't further injured."

PC Whittaker, who lives in Harle Syke, Burnley, but grew up in Cherry Tree, Blackburn, now works in the police support unit in Preston.

She said: "It was just instinctive. As a police officer I am there to protect people and when I saw that dog lunge for the paramedic I knew I had to act.

"My first thought was that someone was going to get hurt.

"Unfortunately the person who ended up getting hurt was me.

"It latched on to my arm but I managed to fight it off. Then it grabbed my leg and just wouldn't let go.

"I have still got scars on my legs where it latched on.

"It was very painful."

She said that the praise from the judge was unexpected.

PC Whittaker added: "What I did was just instinctive. I certainly didn't expect any praise.

"I'm really surprised that the judge said anything. It is very nice to be recognised."

The court was told how on November 22, 2005, at about 11pm, police and an ambulance crew were called to Ligreci's home.

The crew could not get any response and the dog prevented them from entering the property.

Ligreci refused to accept treatment and threatened the paramedics that he would set the dog on them, the court was told.

Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, told the court Ligreci had alcohol problems and had in the past complied with the Probation Service.

Miss Emsley-Smith said the defendant had not offended for 16 months, had virtually eradicated alcohol from his life and was no longer with that partner.

He was desperate to be sober and stable, was motivated and was determined to combat his drink problem, Miss Emsley-Smith added.