A 22-year-old woman who stabbed a police officer in the leg in front of horrified shoppers has been jailed for 10 months.

Danielle Preston attacked PC Deborah Day with a kitchen knife in the packed Dolphin shopping centre in Poole on Saturday February 18.

She admitted assault, causing actual bodily harm, when she appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The court was told that PC Day had been called to an unrelated incident at around 1.50pm when she was asked to assist a security officer who was attempting to deal with Preston, who is of no fixed address. As she attempted to do so, she was stabbed in the right knee, causing a 1.5cm wound. The knife was said to have a blade of around eight centimetres.

PC Day was treated at the scene by colleagues before being rushed to Poole Hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “This was a shocking incident that resulted in an injury to a Dorset Police officer and we are pleased to see that the offender has been convicted.

“The injured officer has made a full recovery and has now returned to work.”

The incident took place in front of shocked members of the public.

A witness to the aftermath, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Daily Echo: “I saw the female police officer being taken out with her leg bandaged.

“Other policemen had gloves on that were covered in blood.”

He added: “I’m a supporter of the police; this is a stark reminder of the dangers they face. I really think they should have stun guns.”

Clive Chamberlain, chairman of Dorset Police Federation, who represents rank-and-file officers, said: “The attack on the officer demonstrates that policing is inherently dangerous and sometimes that danger arises from totally spontaneous incidents that cannot be predicted.

“Everybody who carries a knife should go to prison and I am glad this person has.

“We need a clear deterrent to persuade other people not to carry or use knives.”