THE Police Federation has branded the soft' punishment handed to a drunken thug who attacked a police woman a "disgrace".

Jonathan Shackleton, 20, of Rimington Avenue, Burnley, who had 27 previous convictions including for violence, was given a suspended sentence after a judge heard he had stayed out of trouble for two years.

But Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, which represents rank and file, blasted the decision.

Victim PC Lisa Bell's fractured wrist will not heal properly and she was left off work suffering panic attacks and having to undergo trauma counselling, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Shackleton had carried out an unprovoked attack on a Christopher Alexander in the Brickmakers Arms, Burnley, punching him in the head.

When police arrived to arrest him, Shackleton struggled violently, kicking out and trying to headbutt PC Bell, the court heard. He was handcuffed with the help of two male officers and continued to resist after being CS gassed.

Shackleton told officers he had been "ratted" and could not remember a great deal about what had happened.

Recorder Thomas Ryder slammed Shackleton's conduct as "quite disgraceful" and said he was concerned about the defendant's "serious, unprovok-ed and inexplicable" violence.

But he said Shackleton had stayed out of trouble for two years and co-operated with the Probation Service. He imposed a custodial sentence of 12 months, suspended for two years, with conditions, which he said would be "a significant burden" on Shackleton.

Shackleton was also given 60 hours unpaid work, the Think First programme, two years supervision, a curfew for six months between 8pm and 6am, seven days a week and must pay £500 compensation.

The court heard that a "glowing reference" from Shackleton's employers saved him from jail.

But Mr Edwards said: "This is a disgrace. It is about time the criminal justice system started to hand out penalties which fit the crime and to reinforce that an assault on a police officer is an assault on society."

PC Bell's boss, Burnley Police inspector Dave Croll, said: "The public rightly expect unprovok-ed violence to be punished and for the sentence to seen as a deterrent in the future."

Shackleton admitted assault with intent to resist arrest, common assault, police assault and police obstruction in July.

Philip Holden, defending, said there was no doubt Shackleton had an appalling record.