A POLICE officer had to have his skull glued back together after a man smashed his head with a metal pole during an arrest.

Fraser Ballard, of no fixed abode, carried out the brutal attack days after he was found squatting in a garage at an address in Forsythia Close, Bicester.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing for grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon yesterday how the occupants had been away for the August Bank Holiday weekend last year.

On their return they discovered another man, 36-year old Ballard, had been staying at the garage and left a number of belongings behind. Police later removed his items and left a note to contact them.

When Ballard returned on the afternoon of September 1 he ‘became aggressive’ that his possessions had been taken according to prosecutors and police were called.

A PCSO arrived together with dog handler PC Wayne Mills and his police dog Cody.

On attempting to arrest Ballard he became abusive towards police before dashing into a nearby alleyway and arming himself with two metal poles - car jacks.

Ballard then lashed out at the officer and struck him hard to the skull which resulted in a serious injury.

Before the blow, the court heard, police dog Cody managed to disarm Ballard of one pole, before he was ultimately arrested by police.

PC Mills and his dog were later given a police commendation for their actions.

In mitigation, Ronan McCann said his client had only been to the house because it had previously belonged to his family and added that he suffered from mental health problems.

Sentencing, Recorder David Mayall said: “This was an extremely nasty assault and a very frightening assault.

“No doubt the police officer merely carrying out his duty and doing so bravely in the circumstances, it would have been extremely frightening to him and distressing to members of the public that observed it.”

Ballard was jailed for 10 months for grievous bodily harm and two months for possessing an offensive weapon, to run concurrently and suspended for two years.

He was also made subject to a community order to include 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

It also dictates he must undergo 12 months of mental health treatment.