A COMMUNITY cop has told how a thug attacked him with a quad bike and threatened to kill him.

Police community support officer John Cannon approached Andrew O'Connor after he saw him recklessly riding his off-road bike on the pavement in Moston, Manchester.

When O'Connor, 20, tried to ride away from him, PCSO Cannon, who was patrolling with colleague Janet McNamara, blocked him in with his bicycle - but O'Connor responded with violence and threats.

Mr Cannon, an officer for two years, said: "He became extremely aggressive towards us, punched me then grabbed his bike and swung it at my legs.

Swearing

"He was swearing all the time and said he'd kill us and told me `get out of my face'."

O'Connor ran off with his bike because the chain had broken and put it in his house before coming back out, confronting Mr Cannon and running away again.

He was arrested about half an hour later and his bike was seized and later crushed.

Mr Cannon, 53, part of the Harpurhey and Moston Neighbourhood Policing team, said: "When we first saw him he tried to get away from us and almost ran over a woman pushing a pram.

"We're not talking about a child - this is a 20-year-old man who should know better. He was determined to get away at any cost.

Determined

"I do a job I love which I feel serves my community. I have experienced this sort of thing quite a bit but this just shows the important role of PCSOs and it makes me more determined."

O'Connor, of Winton Avenue, New Moston, was ordered to complete 160 hours unpaid work as part of a community order handed down at Manchester Magistrates Court.

He was disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to pay £60 costs.

He pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the incident - common assault, using threatening, abusive and insulting language, using a motor vehicle without insurance, driving without due care and attention and driving without a licence.