A special constable was jailed for three years yesterday for attacking an off-duty soldier - and then lying about it in court.

Cctv footage showed Peter Lightfoot, 40, pushing Lance Corporal Mark Aspinall's head into the ground and hitting him with a police helmet.

At first L Cpl Aspinall, 24, was convicted of attacking police in Wigan but this was quashed as JPs had not seen the CCTV.

A judge told Lightfoot: "You abused your position of trust and power."