A WINCHESTER University drop-out has been jailed for 15 years for a “ferocious” knife attack on four police officers lured by a bogus 999 call.

Alex Traykov, 20, lashed out at the officers who had responded to his report of a fight at a house in Islington, north London, on October 6 last year.

Following an Old Bailey trial, he was cleared of attempted murder but convicted of three counts of wounding with intent and a fourth charge of attempted wounding with intent.

Sentencing, Judge Wendy Joseph QC said it was a “truly terrifying incident” which lasted some 20 seconds.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC told how Traykov attacked the four officers without hesitation or warning.

He was caught on CCTV bringing the blade down onto the head of PC Istarlin Said-Ali, 31, cutting her raised hand.

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He lunged at PC Rafal Kedziora, 34, cutting his face and slashing the back of his neck.

He turned on PC Ben Thomson, 40, before PC Launa Watkins, 39, Tasered him twice.

Giving evidence, Traykov, who lived with his estate agent mother in Redhill, Surrey, accepted he had injured the officers but denied he meant them serious harm.

The former university history student said he was so “high” on strong cannabis he was not thinking straight.

Following his conviction, he said he was “very sorry” for the injuries to the officers.

The four police officers became emotional as they read out victim impact statements in court.

PC Kedziora told the court he never expected he would have to fight for his life and considered himself “lucky” despite being stabbed in the face and neck.

He said he hoped to put the incident behind him, like it was a “bad dream”.

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PC Said-Ali said she was left “insecure, scared and anxious going outside, especially in the dark”.

PC Thomson told of the “unseen mental injury” to him and his colleagues from the “ferocious” attack, including regular night terrors.

He became emotional as he said: “I feel like my world is falling apart at times.”

He said: “I have relived the incident in part and in full countless times. I would like nothing more than to be able to say what could have been does not enter my thoughts, but that would be a lie.”

PC Watkins said she and her colleagues thought they would die at the hands of Traykov.