A man who attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer has been jailed for seven years.

Cayle Lynch, 25, hit out at the female police officer who was attending a domestic violence call-out with her partner after neighbours reported a woman screaming and a man with a knife in Sunningfields Road in Hendon on August 10, 2018.

When the two police constables arrived they tried to reason with Lynch, but he rushed at the female officer with a sledgehammer, knocking her to the ground.

He continued hitting her with the sledgehammer before running away.

The police officer suffered injuries to her arm and was taken to hospital. She has since made a recovery and returned to work.

Lynch pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on the first day of his trial in February.

Today at Harrow Crown Court he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The court also ordered the sledgehammer to be destroyed.

The attack was caught on the officer’s body camera.

Kerry McNulty, from the CPS, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a police officer who was simply doing her job by trying to protect others inside the house.

“The prosecution case involved strong evidence, including the officer’s body worn footage, which clearly captured the attack in its full ferocity. This meant that Lynch could not deny he had carried out the assault and was forced to plead guilty.

“I hope today’s sentence sends out a clear message that the CPS will prosecute those who carry out violent acts against both the public and law enforcers.”