TWO West Mercia policemen were stabbed by a drunken husband after they went to a house to sort out a domestic row.

Sgt Michael Doolan was knifed five times - but only one stab penetrated his outer jacket into his chest.

PC Alan Saffrey needed nine stitches in a wound in his right arm, a jury at Worcester Crown Court heard.

The officers were summoned to the house after neighbours feared for the safety of Benjamin Cooper's wife and children.

They tried to calm Cooper down, but he pulled a four-inch blade from his jeans and jeered: "I hate pigs. I can smell bacon," said prosecutor Peter Haynes.

PC Saffrey managed to fell Cooper with his baton as Sgt Doolan lay helpless on the staircase.

Both officers and the family escaped. Cooper was arrested after a three-hour seige.

Cooper, aged 38, denies two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The jury heard he had admitted two alternative charges of unlawful wounding.

"He intended to hurt the officers seriously," said Mr Haynes.

No defence

"He says he was drunk, but being drunk is no defence. If you stab and swing and slash with a knife, you're likely to cause serious injury - or worse."

The policemen were ordered to the house in Humber Close, Steen Bridge, near Leominster, at around midnight on Saturday, July 7, last year.

They listened outside as the row escalated.

When they went in, Cooper switched his aggression from his wife to the officers and warned them they had five minutes to leave.

But he suddenly pulled out a knife.

"I knew we were in serious trouble. He went into an aggressive, attacking mode," said Sgt Doolan.

The policemen backed away against the lounge wall. Both pulled out their batons.

"He was lunging with the knife in every direction. It was coming at me from all angles," said Sgt Doolan.

"I was terrified. I thought I was going to die."

He was stabbed in his chest, hand and chin and tried to escape upstairs.

As Cooper came after him, PC Saffrey struck the knifeman and he fell into the lounge.

They escaped through the front door and neighbours gave them first aid.

Sgt Doolan needed an operation on his finger, which was cut to the bone. The stab wound left a scar.

Mr Haynes said the situation could have been worse but for PC Saffrey's bravery.

Cooper, who had been drinking for much of the day, threatened suicide during the siege and made death threats against the police.

After his arrest, he could not remember whether he had injured the officers.

The trial continues.