A POLICE officer who snapped two bones in his leg while trying to catch a shoplifter is back walking the beat after 16 months recovering.

Paul Dallimore, 54, who works as a PCSO in Southend, wrestled Peter Morgan to the ground in Southchurch Road after he spotted him running out of nearby Sainsbury's.

During the struggle, the officer's leg smacked into the kerb as he fell, causing him to experience searing pain and for his leg to go limp.

Despite the best efforts of Mr Dallimore's colleague, PCSO Jackie Jones, 23-year-old Morgan managed to break free and run off.

Mr Dallimore gave chase when staff members at Sainsbury's flagged down the pair and pointed to a man running away from the store.

Speaking about the incident in December 2014, Mr Dallimore, who lives in Eastwood, said: "I managed to grab hold of him and I said 'you aren't going anywhere mate'.

"I only had hold of him for about 20 seconds and he didn't say anything, he was pulling away from me like a train.

"I have never had anyone try to get away so quickly, he was trying to drag us into the main road.

"I thought that he was going to end up killing us both so I had to use all my strength to get him down.

"As I went down I heard my leg snap and I couldn't hold him any longer."

Following the fall, Mr Dallimore spent 13 days in Southend Hospital and had an operation to have pins placed in his leg to try and repair the broken tibia and fibula.

He then spent months in a wheelchair before he was able to gradually put pressure on his leg and walk again.

The PCSO said: "I completely lost my independence and I was reliant on everybody, which I really didn't like.

"I also didn't know if I was able to get back to frontline policing again.

"That was a real big issue for me, I wanted to get back doing my job."

In October, Mr Dallimore returned back to work for Essex Police in an office-based role as he continued to increase his fitness.

He then returned back to the beat for the first time on Tuesday.

Despite his return to full duty, the officer is expected to continue to receive physiotherapy for months.

He said: "It's fabulous to be back at work and I am so pleased to get back into the role I was trained to do.

"A lot of people have lost their jobs and I have managed to retain my role, which is great.

"I couldn't be happier.

"My inspector, Bill Potter, has been amazing. When I got brought into hospital on December 6, 2014, he was up there until 4am supporting my wife even though he was on annual leave. He deserves a lot of recognition."