A POLICE officer who had been on a night out was left with a fractured skull and bleed on his brain after he was punched to the ground.

Mark Lutkevitch had previously been escorted out of Rawtenstall Cricket Club before he was hit on the head by Patrick McCann, who Preston Crown Court heard was the partner of another police officer who had also been having a night out in the club.

Prosecuting the case Anthony Stephenson described how witnesses had seen Mr Lutkevitch saying something which had left his female colleague in tears, resulting in him being asked to leave the club.

Mr Stephenson explained: “On that evening there appears to have been a gathering, or certainly a number of police officers in a group, at the Rawtenstall Cricket Club. This defendant’s partner, who is sat in court, is a serving police officer and was in attendance on the evening. It appears that Mr Lutkevitch was out with his cousin. They, like many that night, had consumed quite a bit of alcohol.

“There appears that there has been some kind of a scuffle or disturbance when Mr Lutkevitch said something to this defendant’s partner which has clearly caused her to be upset. Some witnesses described her as being in tears.

“Mr Lutkevitch was escorted by a number of people from the club and his cousin goes with him. They then continue to go round the Ratwenstall area and continue drinking.

“By no one’s desire, at around 12.30 both parties found themselves in the vicinity of a take-away. Witnesses described the fact there was a verbal altercation between the complainant and the defendant’s partner.

“Clearly upset again she then goes back to the take-away at which point this defendant steps outside walks across to the complainant.”

McCann then strikes Mr Lutkevitch who goes down to the floor before standing up again appearing to be OK. However several hours later he began feeling unwell, vomiting and having difficulties with his balance.

Once in hospital it was found that Mr Lutkevitch had a small bleed on his brain and fractured skull. He was sent home before his condition started to worsen and he was readmitted.

Mr Stephenson added: “He was clearly a very active officer before this incident and he now says that his duties and his abilities have curtailed.”

Mr Lutkevitch has also suffered severe loss of taste and smell as a result of the punch – something he is not expected to recover from.

Defending his client, Mark Stuart urged upon the court that McCann was of previous good character and had never been in trouble in the past.

Jailing him for 20 months, suspended for two years, Mr Recorder Harris said: “There was a background of animosity between you and the complainant and it led no doubt, because of the amount of alcohol that you had consumed, to bad blood.

“I don’t know who started it, but I do know who finished it and that was you.

“That was outside of a take-away shop and you were both seen gesticulating and then you, I find lost your temper, and punched Mr Lutkevitch in the head - of all places to hit someone.”

He added: “Had the impact caused an injury that was fatal, there is enough experience at the bench to realise you would have been behind a high court judge facing at least a manslaughter charge.

“You did not intent to cause anything like this damage which is why you were not charged with the aggravating form of the offence.

“You are assisted, to a degree, by the victim personal statement.

“This statement, which makes objectively sad reading because of the position the complainant is in, concludes: ‘I want the person responsible to understand that this attack didn’t just change me initially while in hospital, but since leaving hospital and trying to build my health up, my family having to watch me struggling, the impact on my work. It didn’t end on the night’.

“He is clearly still suffering but there is no demand for you to go to prison. It wouldn’t have made any difference because it is my decision ultimately, but it is a very mature and sensible approach by someone who clearly devotes his life to protecting the public.”

McCann will also pay £2,000 in compensation and will be subject to an electronic curfew for nine months.