A MAN who subjected a police officer to a violent and “chilling” attack because he tried to search him for drugs has been jailed for two years.

Kamran Iqbal, 23, was partly handcuffed to PC Steve Avinou when he used his free hand to punch him repeatedly during the “disgraceful” assault on June 30, 2016.

PC Avinou suffered a broken nose and had teeth knocked out in the attack, which was only stopped when a passer-by intervened.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the victim was patrolling alone when he saw Iqbal’s car on Rebecca Street and conducted a routine traffic stop.

He went on to perform a drugs search after getting the “potent fresh smell” of cannabis, and Iqbal was found to have a quantity of the drug stashed in his underpants.

He resisted when PC Avinou tried to handcuff him, knocking the officer to the floor as he tried to flee.

The victim kept his dominant hand on the cuffs holding Iqbal, at which point he was subjected to the sustained attack, which he said involved him being punched to the head around ten times.

The court heard that a crowd of people had gathered to watch the incident unfold, but it was a passing lorry driver, John Dawson, who stopped and dragged Iqbal off the officer by getting him in a “bear-hug”.

In evidence, Mr Dawson said he was “appalled” at the level of aggression shown by Iqbal, saying: “I couldn’t believe anyone would do this.”

PC Avinou had been unable to activate his emergency button during the attack but was able to raise the alarm for other officers to attend the scene.

In a victim impact statement, he said he was “proud and passionate” to be a police officer, describing Iqbal’s attack on him as being “desperate and unprovoked.”

He said: “Had it not been for the brave actions of a member of the public, I do not know how this would have ended”, adding that Iqbal had continued to punch him despite him drifting into semi-consciousness.

PC Avinou said he “hated being a burden on his team” when he returned to work on restricted duties, and said his partner wanted him to change jobs as she now “panicked” at every report of officers being attacked.

Iqbal, of Girlington Road, Bradford, admitted offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, but maintained a basis of plea that he had only struck out at PC Avinou in self-defence.

He claimed the officer had been strangling him leaving him “panicking” and “struggling to breathe”, also “twisting his arm in every way conceivable” to hurt his wrist.

He accused PC Avinou of being racist and lying about him resisting arrest, but the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, dismissed his argument, heard as a trial of issue, as “absolutely ridiculous.”

He said PC Avinou had “followed procedure to the letter”, telling Iqbal: “I am satisfied that you were far from panicking, but were clear-headed and determined.”

Judge Durham Hall described Iqbal’s attack as “sustained, deliberate, calculated, and chilling.”

He said: “You repeatedly punched the officer to the head.

“You were making a point to hurt this officer.

“He was very vulnerable and as he said, he was receiving a shoeing, getting beaten up.

“You were clearly intent on causing as much harm as you could.”

Judge Durham Hall told Iqbal he took a “very, very dim” view of his persistence to maintain he was acting in self-defence.

He said: “Your basis of plea, like your evidence, is deliberate lies. You seem to have an arrogance and innate disrespect for the law, the police, and the courts.

“This was an utterly appalling, disgraceful, repeated, and sustained assault by somebody in possession of drugs who was seeking to escape.

“The consequences will be felt of you calling everyone liars.

“You knew from the moment of your arrest, from the moment this officer was so proportionate and measured with you, that you were not having any of it.

“You gave the view it was your choices and decisions that mattered.

“No amount of ducking and diving can avoid the consequences, and you knew that when you submitted an implausible basis of plea.

“You have lied on oath from start to finish.”

Judge Durham Hall also paid tribute and ordered £500 in public funds to be paid to Mr Dawson, who he said had stepped in when other members of the watching crowd were “sniggering” and not helping PC Avinou.

He told Iqbal: “I want you to know that whereas your behaviour was disgusting, the behaviour of Mr Dawson was exemplary. He put himself in harm’s way dealing with you in the presence of a hostile crowd.”