Man due in court over Pc shooting

Pc Johnson was hit by 12 pellets in the top of her leg

A third man is due in court accused of attempting to murder a police dog handler on New Year's Eve.

Pc Katie Johnson, 29, suffered 12 pellet wounds in the thigh after a robbery at the Hospital Inn in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, last December.

Rudolph Mancini, 54, from Kirkham, has been charged with attempted murder, armed robbery, firearms offences and false imprisonment.

He is due to appear before magistrates in Preston later.

Two other men, Wayne McDonald, 46, of no fixed address, and David Tyrell, aged 37, of Lions Drive, Swinton, Greater Manchester, have already been charged in connection witht the incident.

They face charges of attempted murder, robbery, firearms offences and four offences of false imprisonment.

Pc Johnson was hurt when a gang stole £11,300 from the Hospital Inn after tieing up four members of staff and leaving them in the bathroom.

As a police dog handler based in Ormskirk, she was among several officers responding to a 999 call.

She recovered from her injuries after treatment at the Royal Preston Hospital and returned to work last month.