A Croydon man involved in an assault where a police officer was fly-kicked into the path of an oncoming bus has been jailed for almost three years.

Martin Payne, 20, of Brighton Road, was out of prison on licence and driving without insurance when his car was stopped routinely in Merton on November 17.

Attempting to escape, Payne wrestled a male officer on the floor, while his passenger Kersan Euell, 20, kung-fu kicked an assisting female constable, causing head injuries.

Euell also fractured PC John Collins’ ribs as he attempted to free his accomplice.

Today, Judge Plaschkes sentenced the pair to a collective six years in prison, describing them as a “serious risk of harm” to the public.

"This was a serious and sustained group violence, motivated by a desire to evade justice, against a police officer carrying out his duty,” she said, addressing Payne.

Turning to Euell, she said: "You intentionally and with considerable force kicked a police officer to the ground and into the path of oncoming vehicles.

“You left her lying in the road and returned to continue your attack on PC Collins."

Despite being arrested on suspicion of causing GBH, both Payne and Euell were charged with the lesser offence of ABH.

They entered guilty pleas, which resulted in reduced sentences.

Judge Plaschkes went on to further described the impact of the attack.

The female officer, who is a mother, did not return to work for more than a month after being attacked by Euell and is considering early retirement.

"PC McGinty was found to have a two-inch long laceration to the back of her head, which was glued by hospital staff.

"For several days after the incident PC McGinty suffered headache and vomiting.

"On November 19, the vomiting and headache became so severe, she was taken to A&E, where she received medication.

"A CT scan was performed, which fortunately did not show any injury to the skull.

"PC Collins suffered muscular pains through his shoulder, sharp pains to the left side of his rib cage and severe headache.

"The abrasion to his knee and the abrasion and bruising to his forehead were photographed.

"His finger was splinted by hospital staff.

"The pains in his chest continued an on November 19, he went to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured rib."

Before his guilty plea, Euell told police he was nowhere near the incident and was at his Grandmother's 80th birthday party and had witnesses to back up his story.

He also claimed in mitigation that he was only trying to defend Payne from attack by the police.

Listing out the defendants' previous convictions, which included robbery, violent disorder, assault of a constable and in Payne's an assault with intent to resist arrest, Judge Plaschkes said: "Those antecedents show that Mr Payne was on licence when they committed this offence with a condition which precluded contact with Mr Euell, which is another aggravating factor.

"Mr Euell's licence had only recently expired and he was still under post sentence supervision.

"Both defendants have a long history of failing to comply with court orders.”

Both will serve their terms in a young offender institution.

Chief of police Sally Benetar, who oversees policing in Kingston, Mertom, Richmond and Wandsworth also provided a witness statement for the court.

She said: "Just as it is often said that police officers are not above the law, they are also not above the protection of the law.

"These officers are normal people, they are fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons."