A POLICE officer was left collapsed and bleeding heavily after he was struck with a broom handle and bitten on the arm in a violent struggle with a man he was trying to arrest, Bradford Crown Court heard.

PC Shaun Leeson was set upon by Janaid Iqbal, 27, when he went to his home in Sunningdale, Fairweather Green, Bradford, on July 25 last year.

Iqbal, wanted for questioning about a suspected motoring offence, jumped a wall into a neighbour's garden and attacked PC Leeson when he went after him and took him by the wrist to apprehend him, prosecutor Michael Jowett said today.

Iqbal hit the officer with a broom handle, tore a three inch chunk of flesh off his right forearm with his teeth and struck him with a water gun.

Iqbal's father, taxi driver Javed Iqbal, 55, then joined in the attack, punching PC Leeson once in the face, Mr Jowett said.

Other people then came on the scene and delivered "a torrent of kicks" to PC Leeson's body.

His glasses were smashed and his personal phone stolen.

He pressed his panic button and was found by colleagues collapsed in a nearby garden, bleeding heavily from his face and with blood gushing from his arm.

PC Leeson was treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary for cuts and swelling to his face and he made "numerous" trips to the hospital for treatment to his bitten arm, the court heard. He was left with a permanent scar that recalled memories of the attack whenever he looked at it.

His stolen phone was thrown into a field and later recovered.

Father and son pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Leeson and causing him actual bodily harm.

Janaid Iqbal had previous convictions for resisting a police officer and breach of the peace.

He was on bail at the time for possession of cannabis with intent to supply and he was in breach of a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, imposed on September 12 last year.

His case was adjourned until March 13.

Javed Iqbal had no previous convictions, the court heard.

His barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he was very remorseful for the isolated incident.

Judge Neil Davey QC told Javed Iqbal: "This was an outrageous and cowardly assault on PC Shaun Leeson, who was doing no more than his duty to the public, and that includes you."

The judge said Javed Iqbal delivered one punch to the officer after his son had begun the attack.

He was a hard working family man who acted out of character.

Judge Davey said his conviction for this offence should not affect his employment as a taxi driver.

He sentenced Javed Iqbal to a 12 month community order, with 90 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to pay PC Leeson £500 compensation.