A Bovey Tracey teenager, who attacked a police officer so viciously that the officer needed nine stitches to a cut on his face, has been told his actions were wicked and unprovoked.

The 17-year-old received an 18-month detention and training order when he appeared at South Devon Magistrates Court, Newton Abbot, this week.

Half the sentence will be served in secure accommodation.

Chairman of the bench Martin Beer, said: 'You can go back to custody with these pictures in your head.

'The attack on the officer was nothing short of disgraceful. he was carrying out his duty. It was totally unprovoked, it was wicked.'

Magistrates heard that the attack happened on July 31 as police were breaking up a late night punch-up in Bovey Tracey town centre.

Prosecutor Lisa Cassidy said that the youth charged at PC Mark Le Breton, shouting an obscenity and telling 'you're going to get it now.'

She added: 'He came running at full speed with a fist clenched at face level.'

The attack was witnessed by several police officers and members of the public.

In a written statement one police officer said 'he could not believe his eyes.'

'The force of the punch was such that it took the officer clean off his feet and into parked cars. The defendent was on top of him raining further blows while officers tried to restrain him,' Mrs Cassidy said on Wednesday.

PC Le Breton suffered two black eyes, a one inch facial cut needing nine stitches and various other swellings and abrasions.

In a statement read out in court, PC Le Breton said it was the worst attack he had suffered in 18 years of service.

'Usually I'm able to defuse situations but I had no chance to prevent the attack,' he said.

After arrest, the youth was overheard saying: 'I've just smacked the **** out of a police officer. I've just been nicked for GBH.'

In interview, he admitted the assault and said that his brother had tried to stop him.

'I thought they were going for me and next thing I am on the floor with cuffs on. I am not really proud of what I did.

'All I remember is running up to the copper and smacking him and saw him go kaplunk on the floor.'

He said he had been smoking 'weed' and drinking vodka.

'To tell the truth all my mates would shake my hand,' he told them.

Last year he received a referral order for another attack on a police officer and a second referral order in April for possessing a blade.

Mitigating, Simon Colman said that his client accepted he was going back into custody and had been using his time there constructively.

'I am in the unusual position of saying to the court that my client does not want to be released,' he said.

The youth was sentenced to 24 months reduced to 18 months because of his guilty plea. For a separate offence of breaching his referral order he received four months, to run concurrently.

'We did note you feel you need help and it seems that in your case, prison works,' Mr Beer said.