A police officer who had his fingers broken has told his attacker to show some respect.

Eastern Daily Press: David Dunbar. PIC: Submitted by Norfolk Police.David Dunbar. PIC: Submitted by Norfolk Police. (Image: Archant)

David Dunbar, 30, had been wanted on recall to prison and PC Ben Hardiman had been one of the officers sent to arrest him in Great Yarmouth.

After being caught, Dunbar asked if he could return home to pick up some things and say goodbye to his partner.

PC Hardiman, pictured right, agreed but after removing Dunbar's handcuffs was pushed by the defendant as he tried to escape. The PC was punched repeatedly in a 'windmilling' action which connected with PC Hardiman's hand and resulted in two fingers being fractured.

Despite his broken fingers, PC Hardiman attempted to stop Dunbar, pictured right, from fleeing but his efforts were thwarted by the offender who repeatedly shut a window on his head and arm.

PC Hardiman suffered 'significant pain' and unable to do things like tying shoe laces for more than a week following the incident on January 9 this year.

Dunbar, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years at Norwich Crown Court yesterday after he previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault with intention to resist and escaping lawful custody. He also admitted a separate burglary offence. The officer's victim impact statement was read out in court and urged Dunbar to show others the same respect he had been shown.

'I showed Mr Dunbar courtesy, respect and politeness. I spoke to him how I would expect to be spoken to by a police officer and allowed him the decency of being searched away from public view and to say goodbye to his partner and her young children.'

PC Hardiman said Dunbar, who has previous convictions for assaulting police officers, had not shown him the same humanity although hoped that might change.

He said: 'It is likely I will meet Mr Dunbar again. I will show him the same respect as before; I hope that following a lengthy spell in custody he would do the same and would think twice about assaulting emergency service workers again in the future.' Andrew Oliver, for Dunbar, said he had not intended to cause the injuries.