A hero police officer stabbed four times while trying to stop and search a wanted man is recovering at home.

Police Constable Nigel Albuery could now be faced with a lifetime of medical treatment after suffering life changing kidney damage.

The PC was out on an undercover patrol in West Croydon when he came across three youths outside of a block of flats in Bute Road.

After trying to carry out a stop and search on one of the youths an argument broke out and the father of three was stabbed repeatedly in the stomach.

On Monday PC Albuery was recovering at home in West Sussex.

He said: “I’m feeling much better now. I’m just glad to be back home.

“Everyone has been so helpful. I can’t really say anything more than that because this is an ongoing investigation and someone has been charged but I’m feeling a lot better.”

PC Albuery was rushed to Mayday Hospital where he was transferred to St George’s in Tooting to undergo life-saving surgery.

Officers from The Met have been making round trips to his home in West Sussex on daily basis since the attack to take his wife to see him in hospital and check up on his recovery.

Mr Albuery’s Grandmother, Vera Ide, said: “He’s a bit croaky but he’s getting better.

“My sister lives in Chertsey and she saw the news alert and couldn’t believe it was our Nigel.

“She called me to tell me what had happened and we were very worried.

“Everyone at the police have been so helpful, they have been coming down here everyday to pick up Michelle (PC Albuery’s wife) and taking her to see him in hospital.

“We were all very worried but he seems to be on the mend now.”

The youth alleged to have stabbed PC Albuery was already wanted for a series of offences including GBH, possession of an offensive weapon, a paving slab, and intimidation of a witness.