Two police officers injured in a knife attack today criticised the sentence handed to a man they claim was trying to kill them.

Leon Lukins repeatedly lashed out with a knife, cutting PC Ian Upperton above the eye and hitting PC Luise Tait's glasses.

Lukins admitted the attacks plus a string of other offences including burglaries, assault, handling stolen goods, taking a vehicle without consent, breaching bail, stealing from a car and using threatening behaviour.

Lukins also held a teenager hostage with a knife during a 13-hour siege at a house in Whitehawk, Brighton.

Judge Anthony Scott Gall jailed Lukin for three years and ten months and banned him from driving for six months.

He described Lukin's criminal record as depressing and dreadful and said his actions must have been terrifying for the officers.

PC Tait today said: "I was shocked - I thought he would get a harsher sentence, at least five years. He was trying to kill us."

PC Upperton said: "The sentence does not match the seriousness of the offences."

They were meeting yesterday with the Crown Prosecution Service to discuss the sentence.

The two were trying to arrest Lukins at an address in Sillwood Place, Brighton, when he pulled a knife.

PC Upperton grabbed him in a bear hug while his colleague held his arms.

He tried to stab both in the face and PC Upperton was left with blood pouring from his wound. Lukins thrust the knife at PC Tait's eye but she was saved by her glasses.

Lukins, 31, was swearing and saying he would kill them both.

PC Upperton, 31 and married with a young child, said: "We were dodging the knife and fighting for our lives."

Both officers suffered flashbacks for weeks afterwards and PC Tait, 30, could not sleep.

She was also kicked by Lukin and needed treatment for cuts to her hands and wrists.

Lukins managed to escape but was traced to a flat in Whitehawk, Brighton.

When officers arrived in Framfield Court, Whitehawk Way, the next morning Lukins shouted from a window that he was not coming out and was holding a teenage boy hostage.

After hours of negotiations, the 16-year-old left the flat and walked free. Lukins gave himself up to police two hours later.

Lukins appeared for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on Monday.

Jeremy Gold, prosecuting, said Lukins, of Charlotte Street, Brighton, was arrested on January 19 following a burglary in Norfolk Square.

He was traced to the flat in Sillwood Place where the two officers went to arrest him.

Mr Gold said: "He was acting violently, attempting to thrust the knife in the direction of the officers."

He said Lukins told PC Tait, who had grabbed one his wrists: "Let go or I will f*** ing stab you."

Police later traced Lukins to the flat in Whitehawk. Mr Gold said the teenager, who was held hostage, was unharmed in the incident and did not make any complaints against Lukins.

Philip Wakeham, defending, said Lukins, who has previous convictions for assault, burglary and taking cars, had a troubled childhood.

He referred to the pre-sentence report prepared by a probation officer which detailed how Lukins had spent much of his adult life in custody.