A MAN who attacked a traffic policeman when he tried to arrest him after a high speed road chase has been jailed for 20 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how PC Charles Wright' s children were traumatised by seeing their father's injuries, the officer had difficulty sleeping and had to take pain killers.

His attacker Mark Ellison, 25, was sent to jail for a total of 20 months, including 12 for the beating, after a judge said he was responsible for a catalogue of offences.

Judge David Pirie told the defendant it was fortunate none of PC Wright's injuries was serious.The officer had been alone in the middle of the night with nobody to help him and been caused considerable pain.

The defendant, of Barnes Street, Church, had admitted three counts of driving while disqualified, one of dangerous driving and one of assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm. He had been committed for sentence by Hyndburn Magistrates.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Ellison lost control of the motorcyle his was riding and made off, chased by PC Wright.

The defendant stopped as if to surrender and the officer faced him to the wall to handcuff him.

He said Ellison became aggressive, grabbed PC Wright's wrists, headbutted him and did the same again after the pair grappled and fell. The officer temporarily blacked out, again went to the floor and was headbutted three more times.

The defendant ran off and was arrested by other officers. PC Wright suffered a scratched eyeball, burst blood vessel in his eye, burst lips, chipped teeth, swelling, grazes and an injury to the bridge of his nose. Richard Orme, defending, said Ellison maintained he was "manhandled," during his arrest and suggested it was because of the proximity of the officer's car to his motorcycle that he crashed.

He was livid about that and a knee had been applied to his back when he was pushed against the wall.

He had not long been released from custody and clearly panicked when the officer was behind him.

Ellison lost his temper and was remorseful for what he had done. He had pleaded guilty to all the offences,

The defendant's partner, mother of two Janet Barr said since his release from custody he had calmed down a lot. He had a job waiting for him at her brother's roofing firm and she and Ellison planned to get married.

She told the court: "I will wait for him. I think he's really settled down."