THIS is the terrifying moment a thug strangles a policewoman and punches her in the face during a horrific attack.
Police were called to a hotel in Capel St Mary, Suffolk on July 29 after Xander Butler, 23, smashed a window and damaged his hotel room.
Two police officers responded to the report, with disturbing bodycam footage showing how Xander flew into a fit of a rage as he opened the door to the cops.
After being told to stay back, Xander lunges at one of the cops, grabbing her by the neck and begins to choke her.
The thug then throws her on to the floor of the hotel corridor as the other cop tries to grab hold of him.
He appears to kick and punch the officer multiple times while she’s on the ground until the other cop gets in between the two.
She pulls the officer up onto her feet – at which point the cop whips out her Taser.
Xander then appears to panic and kneels down by a wall with his hands behind his head.
Pointing the Taser at him, the cop shouts: “Stay where you are. Get down now. Put your hands above your head.”
He fails to follow her instructions, so she discharges the Taser and Xander is detained and arrested.
Xander was sentenced to 16 months in prison at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to intentional strangulation, assault by beating of an emergency worker and criminal damage.
The policewoman who was strangled suffered facial swelling, bruising, jaw pain and a head injury, requiring hospital assessment and X-rays as a result of the attack.
The other officer escaped with minor injuries, but both cops described feeling frightened and emotionally distressed following the incident.
In her victim impact statement for the court, one of the officers wrote: “I do not think I will ever be able to fully describe how I felt in that moment.
“I was terrified. I genuinely feared for my life.
“As the attack unfolded, my thoughts immediately turned to my family and loved ones.
“I thought about the possibility that I might never see them again and the devastating impact that would have on those I could have left behind.
“No one should go to work believing there is a chance they may not come home at the end of their shift.”
Sergeant Alasdair Nicol, South West Response Team said: “This was one of the worst assaults on police officers I have seen.
“It is important to remember police officers are normal people doing the abnormal.
“Butler’s abhorrent actions against two of my colleagues has again highlighted the unacceptable levels of violence that officers around the country are facing on a daily basis.
“The officers’ actions have no doubt prevented Butler from causing significant harm to others.
“However, in doing so, they have had to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.
“Let me be clear. If you actively choose to attack police constables, you can expect a robust response as demonstrated in this matter.
“We will pursue offenders and make use of every appropriate power available to ensure they are brought to justice.”