Burly thug broke policeman’s ankle

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A BURLY thug, who attacked police, broke one officer’s ankle so badly his foot was left dangling in the wrong direction.

PC John Annand’s ankle was crushed during the struggle with Connor Collins and he suffered ligament damage which left him off work for months.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told the trauma caused by the injury had left the officer struggling to regain his confidence.

Collins admitted attacking three officers and leaving one of them with severe injuries when they arrived to break up a domestic disturbance at his home.

Fiscal depute Alistair McDermid told the court: “A call was made by a neighbour about a possible domestic matter.

“Police knocked on the door and the accused started shouting and swearing from within.

“An officer tried the door handle and the accused shouted ‘turn that handle again and I’ll break your f***ing fingers’.

“The accused’s partner opened the door. The accused went into the bathroom and stated there would be big trouble if they followed him.

“He stated he wanted to go for a cigarette but was told he would have to stay with the officers.”

Collins shouted: “I’ll break your f***ing legs.”

He then pushed one officer and started to struggle violently in a bid to free his arms from the officers’ grip.

Mr McDermid said: “The accused continued to struggle, flailing his arms around.

“They tried to take him down to the ground to take control.

“PC Hunter fell back on to a chair and the accused fell on top of PC Annand’s right leg.

“He immediately felt severe pain in the ankle and struggled to stand.”

Collins screamed: “I hope that f***ing hurt.”

“PC Annand was unable to move due to the injury to his leg.

“There was an obvious break or dislocation as his foot was now pointing in the wrong direction.”

Given the size of Collins, officers were forced to put on two sets of handcuffs and a pair of leg restraints to bring him under control.

Mr McDermid said PC Annand needed morphine for pain relief at the scene and subsequently required surgery as he had a broken fibula and ankle and ligament damage.

“The recovery process has been difficult, painful and frustrating for him. He is apprehensive about future incidents he has to attend.”

Solicitor Douglas Thomson, defending, said his client realised it was “a serious matter” which has had “long-standing consequences for the officer”.

Collins, 24, from Dundee, admitted assaulting and severely injuring PC Annand by lashing out violently with his arms and legs and causing him to fall. Collins, who was freed on bail awaiting pre-sentence reports, also admitted making offensive remarks and issuing threats of violence during the incident in Forfar on September 16 last year.

Connor Collins.