A police officer was stabbed twice in the back with an 8in kitchen knife as he tackled a suspect fleeing a burglary, a court heard today.

PC Gary Thompson, 35, collapsed in a pool of blood after being stabbed during the incident in Southwick on June 29 last year.

Lewes Crown Court was told that James Richards, 35, of West Paddock Court, Northampton, plunged the knife into PC Thompson's back, slicing into his kidney and leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Philip St John-Stevens, prosecuting, said PC Thompson struggled with Richards following an alleged burglary at a flat in Rock Close.

Richards denies attempted murder.

He is also charged with his son, Jonathan Richards, 18, of Shoreham, and Shaun Kelly, 18, of Church Green, Shoreham, with conspiring to cause actual bodily harm to Simon Cowley, the occupant of the flat in Rock Close.

All three men are also charged with aggravated burglary.

Kelly's mother, Mandy Stephenson, 41, of Church Green, Shoreham, is charged with perverting the course of justice by driving the male defendants from the scene.

Linda Cole, a friend of Stephenson, is also charged with perverting the course of justice by driving the men from a garage near Rock Close, where it is alleged they spent the night following the incident, to the Downs at Durrington and then later to London.

The defendants deny all the charges.

Mr St John-Stevens said James Richards, formerly of London, his son Jonathan and Kelly all went to Mr Cowley's home following an alleged assault by Mr Cowley on Kelly.

He said Jonathan Richards went armed with a home-made cosh, a pool ball in a sock, while his father was carrying the knife, he said.

The court heard that Kelly had tried to sell cannabis to Mr Cowley but had been assaulted and the drugs stolen.

At 1am on June 29, the court was told the male defendants burst into Mr Cowley's flat. James Richards punched and kicked him while he was holding his then 15-month-old daughter. His girlfriend Gemma Moss called police.

The group noticed blue flashing lights through the window and fled, but ran into PC Thompson and his partner PC John Gatland.

PC Gatland grabbed Jonathan Richards while PC Thompson grabbed his father, James.

As the pair struggled, PC Thompson was stabbed, Mr St John-Stevens said.

He said James Richards approached PC Gatland, still holding the knife, and ordered him to let his son go, which he did. Both men then fled with Kelly.

Mr St John-Stevens said: "At Worthing Hospital, two pints of blood were needed to replace significant loss and the injuries were described as potentially life-threatening."

The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.