Mansfield: PC slashed in the head nominated for bravery award

PC Chris Duffy and his police dog, Reno were injured in the attack

A police dog handler who was attacked and left with a skull-exposing wound has been nominated for a national police bravery award.

PC Chris Duffy has been trying to arrest his attacker's brother when he was struck with a weapon in March 2023.

His attacker, Mason Perkins, continued the assault after PC Duffy fell to the floor, before fleeing.

But PC Duffy managed to get up and track Perkins down, despite a seven-inch wound on the back of his head.

The officer and his police dog, Reno, were initially called to The Sunnydale Inn in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, after reports a group was threatening to smash windows and assault the landlord.

Reno tracked down and detained a suspect and as PC Duffy searched him, Perkins, who he believed to be an innocent member of the public, asked to pass by.

Mason Perkins was jailed for more than a decade

PC Duffy said: "Without warning or any sound, I felt a tremendous blow to the back on my head, jolting it forward violently.

"I remember the thud of the blow, being kicked to the left side of my body. Perkins stood over me throwing a volley of punches towards my head, hitting me all over my face and body."

PC Duffy kept a tight grip of Reno while kicking Perkins away and managed to keep the arrested suspect under control as he called colleagues for support.

A short while later, when walking back to his car, PC Duffy spotted Perkins and despite his head dripping with blood, chased him down.

Perkins, 25, was arrested and the officer was taken to hospital where a doctor told him he'd suffered a "scalp-depth laceration".

A forensic pathologist later described the injury in court as a "chop wound".

PC Duffy had to take a month off work due to his injuries, which included a black eye

"Seeing the amount of blood that had soaked into my coat, my body armour, my trousers and the adrenaline starting to wear off it really started to hit home just how violent the encounter had been," PC Duffy said.

Perkins, formerly of Moor Street, Mansfield, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years after admitting grievous bodily harm at Nottingham Crown Court.

After being nominated for a Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Bravery Award, PC Duffy praised his colleagues who were involved in handling the incident that night, calling it a "fantastic team effort".

He said: "It is humbling to know colleagues think highly enough of my actions during the incident to nominate me for such an award.

"The nomination will mean a lot to my family and fiance, who have supported me throughout."