A thug bit through a police officer's ear in a wild attempt to avoid arrest.
Cheshire Police released a graphic image of the cop's horrific injury following the sentencing of Daniel Ward.
The 26-year-old left PC Christopher Birchall with a gaping hole in his ear, which required stitches, and will leave him with permanent scarring and alteration to the lobe's shape.
Chester Crown Court heard Ward told the officer: "I don’t want to go back to prison."
He then attacked him in Runcorn Old Town on Friday, December 14.
Ward had to be restrained by several officers, who were forced to use handcuffs and leg restraints.
The Liverpool Echo reports police pulled up at the scene after witnesses reported a man resembling Ward had assaulted a woman.
Ward complained that he did not 'want to go back to prison' and told PC Birchall's colleague: "I don’t want to f***ing speak to you, you can f*** off.
He resisted arrest as a handcuff was put on right wrist before biting the officer.
"Get the f*** off me, I'll bite you."
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He then bit PC Birchall's arm and kicked out, even taking a blast of CS spray in his face before being subdued.
Ward, of Norton Hill, Runcorn, was charged with wounding with intent; resisting arrest; and a public order offence.
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He pleaded guilty to all of the offences, as well as to two counts of robbery and one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to an incident in a subway by The Knoll in Runcorn, on Tuesday, January 30.
Two people had their bikes stolen in that incident.
Ward threatened them with a knife. The bikes were recovered and Ward was identified during an ID parade.
He was on bail for the offence at the time of the attack.
Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, handed Ward a 13-year prison sentence, with four years on extended licence.
Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Nathaniel Walkowiak, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “Ward subjected two young people to a terrifying ordeal in a subway in January 2018, threatening them with a knife as they had their bicycles stolen.
“Then in December 2018 he tore flesh from the ear of a police officer, biting the PC as he attempted to evade arrest.
“The officer was left with a serious injury that required surgery.
“The nature of policing inevitably requires officers to deal with violent and challenging situations, but being assaulted by members of the public should never be looked upon as an acceptable ‘part of the job’.
“Such incidents can have far reaching effects, not only for the officer who has been assaulted and their loved ones but also for their colleagues and the communities we serve.
“When an officer has been assaulted they may have to take time off work or be placed on restricted duties whilst they recover from the physical and psychological effects of the incident.
“This increases pressures on other officers and can have a significant impact on the resourcing of incidents and the level of service we are able to provide to communities.
“The custodial service that Ward has been handed reflects the severity of the offences he committed and I am pleased that he is now behind bars where he is no longer a threat to the public.
“His victims will never be able to forget the ordeals he put them through, but I hope that the significant prison sentence he has received provides them with some closure and deters others from committing similar offences.”
