Police officer who was kicked in the face by African thug, 17, reveals he almost lost his eyesight

A senior constable who was kicked in the face by a teenage thug has told an appeal hearing how he almost lost his eyesight after the ‘cowardly assault’.

The officer was attempting to arrest another teenager accused of shoplifting at a busy shopping centre on Boxing Day in Melbourne’s east when the African boy, 17, grabbed him from behind and kicked him in the face ‘like a soccer ball’.

The violent attack, which was captured on CCTV, occurred in front of shocked Boxing Day shoppers before the attacker fled into the car park.

The senior constable (pictured) has told a court how he almost lost his eyesight in the alleged attack

The attack, which was captured on CCTV (far left), occurred in front of shocked Boxing Day shoppers at a Melbourne shopping centre

The attack, which was captured on CCTV (far left), occurred in front of shocked Boxing Day shoppers at a Melbourne shopping centre

The boy, 17, was later arrested and pleaded guilty before he was sentenced to a nine-month probation order without conviction in the Children’s Court in January.

The Director of Public Prosecutions revealed in February it would appeal the sentence, which it described at the time as ‘manifestly inadequate.’

On Monday, a County Court judge heard an appeal by the prosecution against the teenager’s sentence for intentionally causing injury.

The officer, who was hospitalised over the attack, told the hearing he felt let down by the justice system, the ABC reported.

‘The incident could have ruined my life,’ he told the court.

‘I felt empty, there was no justice for me, he was going to get away with it.’

The boy, 17, (pictured), who can't be identified was sentenced to a nine-month probation order without conviction in the Children's Court in January

The boy, 17, (pictured), who can’t be identified was sentenced to a nine-month probation order without conviction in the Children’s Court in January

The police officer (pictured), who was hospitalised over the attack, told the hearing he felt let down by the justice system

The police officer (pictured), who was hospitalised over the attack, told the hearing he felt let down by the justice system

His wife, who is also a police officer, told the hearing she heard the alleged attack play out on police radio.

‘My worst fears were literally half a centimetre from becoming a reality,’ she said.

‘Had the kick been half a centimetre closer to [the officer’s] eyeball he would have lost part of his vision, making him unable to perform as a police officer.’ 

The police officer, whose identity has been kept suppressed, also told the court he resented being drawn into the political debate about African youth crime. 

‘I hated being the face of Victoria Police or a ‘poster boy’ for this war against the ongoing issues of African youth crime,’ he said.

The incident happened at Highpoint Shopping Centre (pictured) in Melbourne's inner west

The incident happened at Highpoint Shopping Centre (pictured) in Melbourne’s inner west

The Director of Public Prosecutions revealed in February that it would appeal the boy's sentence

The Director of Public Prosecutions revealed in February that it would appeal the boy’s sentence

The officer said he couldn’t accept his attacker’s letter of apology, The Australian reported.

‘You’re not sorry for kicking me,’ he said.

‘You’re just sorry for being caught.’

Prosecutors told the hearing that the teenager should have received a custodial sentence for was described as a ‘violent and cowardly assault’, the ABC reported.  

The teenager’s lawyer argued that rehabilitation should be the main consideration.

The case will return to court next month. 

The officer's wife, who is also a police officer, told the hearing she heard the alleged attack (pictured on CCTV)  play out on police radio

The officer’s wife, who is also a police officer, told the hearing she heard the alleged attack (pictured on CCTV)  play out on police radio

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