A BRAVE cop has relived the horror moment he thought he was “going to die” after a dangerous brute sprayed ammonia in his face.
Sergeant Andy Gore, of Lancashire Police, was covered with the toxic fluid by vile Paul Elliot, 46, as he went up the stairs of a house in Darwen while responding to a 999 call.
Elliot has now been jailed for 14-and-a-half years for the sickening attack which left hero cop Sgt Gore partially blind.
He said today: “On the 16th of April this year I was assaulted at work, at which point my life changed.
“At this point I’ve got no idea what’s going on around me. I’ve got no idea what’s happened to my staff, my colleagues, my friends.
“I’ve got no idea where they are. I’ve got no idea where the offender is.
“And then the panic kicks in at the point for me. Both eyes were shut at that point and I was coughing, retching and panicking.
“I genuinely thought I was going to die. I was thinking about my wife, about my children about my family, am I going to see them again.”
He blacked out and fell back down the stairs and was taken by colleagues to hospital.
I genuinely thought I was going to die. I was thinking about my wife, about my children about my family, am I going to see them again.
Sgt Andy Gore
Sgt Gore, a police officer with 22 years’ experience, was left struggling to breathe and despite numerous medical interventions remains blind in one eye.
Elliot pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court today to a charge of wounding and two counts of throwing a noxious substance with intent in relation to two other officers.
Prosecutor Tim Evans said: “The officers had attended to a distress call and had to force entry into the property.
“They made their way up the stairs in a line with Sgt Gore first and PCs Richards and Stockley behind.
“The defendant appeared at the top of the stairs and sprayed ammonia at them.”
Elliott had been due to stand trial on Monday after previously denying causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sgt Gore and six offences of throwing a corrosive fluid with intent over several other cops.
But before a jury could be sworn, he changed his pleas to guilty in relation to the offences concerning Sgt Gore and the two constables.
Mr Justice William Davies said that while there was undoubtedly a risk to the four other officers “while performing their public duty”, the “awful injury” sustained by Sgt Gore and the injuries caused to the two PCs was the most serious aspect of the case.
Bodycam footage played to the court showed the majority of the 15-minute incident, from the point where police respond to a 999 call to the Ash Grove semi-detached house, to Elliott’s arrest.
The footage shows the officers forcing entry into the property, clearly stating their presence and the fact they were armed with tasers.
At one point, an officer can be heard shouting loudly “police officers with tasers, please identify yourself”.
Mr Evans said: “It was clear not only from what they were shouting, but from their appearance that they were police officers.”
In his victim impact statement provided to the court, Sgt Gore described the incident as the worst moment of his life when everything changed.
Mr Justice Davies said: “Sgt Gore was very badly injured. He’s had two serious operations in his eye since that haven’t been successful and now faces a long period where his eye will be treated.
“You were utterly reckless with that man’s life. You are a man with a bad record going back many years.
“Everything that happened on April 16 happened while you were on licence.
“You are a dangerous man and present a significant risk of harm to the public in the future.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
