PC Aaron Buxton was also at the incident and recalled the “blonde male”, who hit Ms Evans, swinging a sledgehammer at him moments before.

He told the jury: “I was laid on my back with the male with brown hair on top of me. The male with blonde hair turned and walked back towards us. He has swung the sledgehammer multiple times towards me.

“I don’t know how many times he swung it because in the moment I was scared. I believe it made contact with my right calf and my work radio.

“I had quite considerable pain down that area of my leg following it. Also I had slight bruising come up.”

The court heard that Sgt Evans was left with a large bruise on her back and an X-ray showed there was a fracture to her lumbar spine, leaving her unable to return to work for three months.

She described in a statement suffering “severe pain” in her back and legs, needing help with basic tasks like getting in the shower or into bed, and being unable to drive or sleep.

All six defendants were arrested at the factory.

The court heard that Elbit Systems UK manufactures defence technology equipment and is a UK-registered company whose parent company is based in Israel.

The trial is expected to last until January.