Police officer faces gunman who shot her in head

Constable Suzanne Hudson and James Leslie who shot 80 pellets at her head[SWNS/ PA]

WPC Suzanne Hudson, 33, who is scarred for life in the face and hand, told a jury she had been working as a frontline officer for a week when she was blasted with a sawn-off shotgun and left fighting for life.

Schizophrenic James Leslie, 37, stared at the West Yorkshire Police officer from the dock as she began to give evidence at his trial.

The court has heard that Leslie lured WPC Hudson and PC Richard Whitely to his flat in Leeds at 4.15am on December 4, last year, by throwing a bottle through a neighbour's window and telling them "call the feds".

Leslie mockingly repeated the word "police" back to her in a gangster-style Jamaican accent before shooting her through the window

The officers arrived to answer what they thought was a routine call.

WPC Hudson, who is 5ft 1in, knocked on Leslie's door and identified herself as a police officer, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Leslie mockingly repeated the word "police" back to her in a gangster-style Jamaican accent before shooting her through the window, blasting her with 80 pellets, the jury was told.

Then as PC Whiteley tended his colleague, Leslie rode off on a bike shouting, "Do you want some more?"

WPC Hudson told the court she had worked for three years as a neighbourhood officer dealing with nonurgent incidents but had requested a transfer to frontline duties.

She said: "It was something that I always wanted to do. It's essentially what most people join the job for and I wanted to gain experience."

Leslie denies attempted murder, an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life. He admits possessing a prohibited firearm and smashing the neighbour's window.

The trial continues.

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