IPSWICH: A young man guilty of stabbing a police officer and his dog has changed his plea to admit a lesser charge involving the wounding of his father.

Asher Picort, of Oulton Road, Ipswich, faces a lengthy term of imprisonment when he is due to be sentenced next Monday.

The 21-year-old had entered a plea of not guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to his father Robert.

His denial came during the same hearing at which he admitted wounding Pc Steve Jay with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and criminal damage when he stabbed the constable’s dog Aman.

The maximum sentence for the offence against Pc Jay is life imprisonment.

Picort was originally remanded into custody until the trial for his father’s case, which was scheduled for April 10.

However, little more than an hour later Picort returned to the courtroom, where he pleaded guilty to the unlawful wounding of his father.

The maximum sentence for this offence is five years’ imprisonment.

All three offences occurred on the night of October 25 last year.

Police were called at around 8.15pm after Picort’s father sustained a stomach wound at their home in Oulton Road. Asher Picort left the area and was found by officers in Nacton Road.

Pc Jay and his German Shepherd Aman were stabbed as they attempted to arrest Picort.

Pc Jay sustained knife wounds to his arm and back, while six-year-old Aman was left with injuries to his shoulder which needed life-saving emergency surgery.

It is believed that the officer’s protective clothing prevented him from being more seriously injured.

Both Pc Jay and Aman recovered fully and are now back on duty.

The pair were presented with the Police Dog Action and Humanitarian Action of the Year award at Crufts 2012 at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday.

Picort is currently remanded in custody.

n Would you like to praise a police officer or police dog for their bravery? E-mail starletters@archant.co.uk or you can write to Star Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.