Two brave police officers wept as they re-lived the horror moment they confronted a former American war veteran.

They had been called to a house in Faversham after a report of a row between Ian Palmer, 45, and his partner.

But the incident – caught on the officers' bodycam and shown to the judge – left them both traumatised as they fought off the vicious and unprovoked attack.

One of the officers recalled her feelings of helplessness as she saw her colleague being strangled and feared she was going to die.

Now Palmer, who admitted attempting to causing grievous bodily harm and assault, has been jailed for five years and 10 months.

He was told his attack could have resulted in the death of one of the officers and prosecutor Catherine Donnelly revealed the officer felt she was "fighting for her survival".

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the officers Jessica Arnold and colleague Marie Roostan had tried to reason with burly Palmer, who had fought in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

But the electrician suddenly grabbed PC Arnold around the throat and pinned her to the stairs inside his home in Water Lane, Ospringe.

In haltering tones, PC Arnold told Judge Catherine Brown: “I have attended many volatile and aggressive situations in my time as a police officer and yet this incident is far beyond anything I have previously experienced.

“The level of violence that was directed at my colleague and I came from nowhere.

"Since being strangled... I have been through a great deal in terms of emotions, stress, trauma, anxiety and many other psychological impacts" - PC Jessica Arnold

"It was completely unexpected and was entirely disproportionate to the situation we both faced.

“It caused me to feel fear and helplessness and is something I will never forget.

"Since being strangled... I have been through a great deal in terms of emotions, stress, trauma, anxiety and many other psychological impacts.”

Her colleague PC Roostan, who also wept, told the judge: how she feared her colleague was being strangled by a man “twice her weight and size” and felt “powerless to stop him”.

“I am angry that I have been assaulted in a completely unprovoked manner," she said.

"Palmer made the assumption on our arrival that he was going to be arrested and was determined to fight regardless.”

She said the officers had gone “beyond pleasant and polite” as they dealt with the domestic incident.

PC Roostan said that even reviewing the footage of the incident had been distressing.

“I had just been assaulted and my colleague was being strangled... listening to me screaming at him to let go of her throat and hearing him repeatedly say he will choke her is hard to listen to.

“I felt a real threat that my friend and colleague would lose consciousness and that it was my responsibility to protect her.

“I am not an overly strong person but what I lack in strength I make up for in determination and I used ever inch to try and prize Palmer off my colleague fearing that he would kill her.

“It was only the realisation of what he was doing I think, made him release his grip.”

PC Arnold said she was unable to sleep for three weeks after the incident in October last year and had suffered flashbacks.

She added: “I was also in physical pain from being pushed around the stairs and against the walls.

“The aches and bruising lasted around 10 days. I was suffering with pain in my neck and shoulders which lasted for four weeks.”

Phil Rowley, defending the father-of-four, told how his mother had been Scottish and he has a British passport when he moved to Britain 10 years ago.

"I had just been assaulted and my colleague was being strangled"- PC Marie Roostan

He said Palmer, who was suffering from PTSD and was tackling a drink problem, was now remorseful for his behaviour and wanted to apologise to the officers.

Mr Rowley added that twice-divorced Palmer had been born in South Carolina and served for four years with the US Army doing tours in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan

After sentencing, the judge praised the two officers and told them the public appreciates their courage.

Chief inspector Rachel McNeil, the district commander for Swale, said: “The officers involved in this case showed exemplary courage to handle an offender whose lack of restraint suddenly escalated into a violent rage.

“Throughout the incident they acted with extreme professionalism despite being forced into a situation where they legitimately feared for their lives.

“I commend the bravery they have shown.

“Every day our officers risk being exposed to unpredictable, and often volatile, situations to protect the public but they should not have to accept being assaulted.

“I am pleased that the judge has also taken the same view and I welcome the sentence Palmer has received.”