AN ANDOVER man has been sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment for his part in a vicious and "life changing" attack on a police dog handler.

Scott Kevin Emery, 21 of Bere Hill Cresent, Andover, and Liam Robinson, 19 of Exeter Street Salisbury were both given three year sentences following a trial at Winchester Crown Court yesterday.

Emery was charged for a cateloge of offences including drink driving, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of criminal damage and was also charged with driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Meanwhile Robinson was charged with burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and assaulting veteran dog handler PC Jo Moyce during an incident near Charlton Road in January.

PC Jo Moyce, who has been with the constabulary for 23 years and a dog handler for 13, was injured during a violent assault at the hands of the two men who, at the time, she was attempting to detain.

She described it as a "frightening and horrible attack" which has affected every aspect of her life ever since.

PC Moyce was dealing with an incident, which took place on January 10, involving a stolen car which had been abandoned at the junction of Foxcott Road and Charlton Road, in Andover.

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The handler, together with her police dog – a three-year-old German Shepherd named Mac - tracked the suspects from the car into a nearby alley when they were confronted by a Vauxhall Vivaro driving towards them.

The van, which had been stolen by the suspects from a nearby house, became stuck in a hedge, trapping the driver’s door.

PC Moyce ran towards the passenger door and opened the door and jumped in grabbing one of the suspects. As she did the driver started reversing with Jo hanging from the side of the vehicle.

Refusing to let go, Jo was punched in the head, leaving her unable to press her emergency button due to the struggle of holding onto the suspect and disengaging the gear stick.

Emery, who was driving, escaped the vehicle and tried to pull his accomplice, Liam Robinson, from the van but Jo kept hold of him, and was further kicked in the head – Robinson’s foot hitting her fully in the jaw.

Despite this, Jo bravely managed to keep hold of one of the men until back-up arrived.

The two men were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the assault.

PC Moyce, who is mum to a four-year-old boy, suffered damage to her jaw and a ‘severe whiplash’ type injury which has damaged the nerves in her neck.

She is still receiving treatment and as such has been unable to return to work since.

Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “The injuries I sustained in this attack impact everything I do.

"I am not even able to exercise my dogs, which is heartbreaking.

"Being a dog handler was a childhood dream of mine and to not be able to perform my role is absolutely devastating to me.

“The actions of those two men on that day have been completely life-changing.

"I am desperate to resume police work with my dogs and have my active life with my family back. Whilst I am relieved to see these men jailed, I continue to live with the result of their actions and that is extremely tough.”

Commenting on the sentencing, Deputy Chief Constable Graham McNulty, said: "Assaults on police officers are never acceptable.

"Every police officer signs up knowing that there is an element of risk to their job, yet they are still willing to put themselves, potentially, in harms way to protect our communities.

"The assault on PC Moyce was a despicable and cowardly act by these two men.

"PC Moyce showed remarkable bravery and composure in detaining her attacker in such circumstances. She has served Hampshire Constabulary proudly for 23 years and is now having to live with the consequences of this attack when she should not have to."

Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, added: “This case highlights the risks and dangers that police officers face every day while protecting people and places from crime and harm.

"There is no justification for anyone to resort to violence against a police officer in the execution of their duty, and these offenders rightly received custodial sentences.

“I admire Jo’s courage, conviction and bravery.

"The sentences however are no compensation for the lasting and life-changing affect this has had on PC Jo Moyce and the affect it has had on what was a very promising career.”