A BOBBY who suffered brain damage after a vicious assault today vowed not to let the attack keep him from the job he loves.

PC Wayne Curness, 33, could have died after the attack on Boxing Day last year. He suffered 13 brain haemmorhages, lost his hearing for a month and spent several days in intensive care.

He had been on night patrol in Blackburn town centre when he approached Graham Billington, who was lying in the road near Barbara Castle Way.

As he helped him to his feet, Billington launched an unprovoked attack on the bobby and left him lying unconscious in the street.

Wayne was only found and taken to hospital after a taxi driver saw him and flagged down a passing police patrol.

Attacker Billington, of Blackburn, was this week convicted of assault at Preston Session's House and faces a custodial sentence when he returns to court next month.

Now back at work Wayne, a police officer for five years, said the attack and his subsequent recovery had been a traumatic time in his life, but he was now looking to the future.

Wayne, who lives in Rossendale, said: "After the attack I had to try to piece together everything that had happened to me and once I had done that I then tried to forget it.

"Having the trial has forced me to relive it all which has been difficult, but I'm glad that justice has been done and I can look to the future.

"The worst period of the whole time was when I was released from hospital and I had to look after myself. By that stage I was fully aware of everything that had happened to me and I had to sit at home and go over it again and again. I was scared of what might happen to me.

"Because the doctors thought I might suffer from epilepsy I wasn't allowed to drive, watch TV or use the computer. My life was very restricted."

Wayne spent ten days in Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the assault and still suffers from headaches occasionally.

He added: "To this day I still have no idea why I was attacked and I will probably never know.

"I wasn't trying to arrest this man, I just helped him to his feet and across to the side of the road then suddenly there was this completely unprovoked attack."

Wayne, a keen sportsman and qualified ski and football instructor, is currently on light duties at Blackburn Police Station.

He said: "I have one more appointment with the neuro-surgeon next month and then, hopefully, I will be given the all-clear. I can't wait to get back out there on the streets.

"The attack hasn't put me off my work in any way, but I will certainly be more self-aware when I'm out and about. It's been an experience I have certainly learnt from."

Wayne is planning to hit the ski slopes again next winter and is also planning a charity sky-dive next year.

Billington will be sentenced at Preston Session's House on October 23. Det Insp Bob Eastwood, of Lancashire Police's Senior Investigating Officer's team, said: "Graham Billington has been convicted of a very serious offence which resulted in severe injuries to this officer, injuries which could have turned out even worse."