A MAN who was decorated by the Chief Constable of Lancashire for bravery was jailed for four months after attacking a policeman called to a domestic dispute.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the officer ended up as "piggy-in-the-middle" as he tried to resolve a violent situation. And when the officer went to arrest John Andrew Dagg, 39, his wife and daughter, who had called the police, turned on the officer.

Dagg, of Cherry Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault. Neil White, prosecuting, said PC Warburton and another officer attended the Dagg home where he was told by the daughter that Dagg had assaulted her mother.

"The police ascertained that he had in fact bitten her on the stomach," said Mr White. "Dagg started throwing punches at his daughter and was arrested. As that was being done he started spitting in the officer's face and kicked him on the leg.

"While this was going on the wife and the daughter turned on the officer and became abusive and threatening," added Mr White, who submitted a claim for compensation including damage to clothing worn by the officer.

"During the incident a fleece and a pair of jeans belonging to the officer were covered in blood because during the previous incident the wife had stabbed Dagg in the hand," said Mr White.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said the initial aggression had come from Mrs Dagg and not Mr Dagg.

"The police officer became piggy-in-the -middle and it went on from there," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said that Dagg had last year received a bravery medal from Chief Constable Pauline Clare after intervening on behalf of a woman who was being mugged.