JAILED: Wolverhampton burglar ran over policewoman as he fled from crime scene

Anthony Potter, and unknown accomplices, stole over £700 worth of tools from one of a block of garages in Westacre Crescent, Finchfield during the early hours of November 4, a judge heard.

The owner, who was at his nearby home, heard the gang forcing open the doors and alerted police who sent two officers to investigate, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The pair were talking to him about the incident when 50-year-old Potter's Peugeot was seen stopping in an alleyway that led to the garages.

The policewoman went to talk to the driver after being told that the vehicle was suspected of being involved in the earlier burglary. The defendant was behind the wheel and went into reverse as she opened the passenger door, said Mr William Donnelly, prosecuting, who continued: "She was effectively dragged under the car when it moved. He then drove forward over the officer while she rolled from one side to the other."

A wheel went over her foot as it drove away, clipping the second officer who was left sprawled on the ground after ordering it to stop. He was not badly hurt. Shop fitter Potter was traced and arrested soon afterwards.

The policewoman also escaped serious physical injury but suffered considerable psychological harm. She is still not able to return to duty and said in a statement that the pain in her back and leg kept her awake for a month. An ear will be permanently scarred and she will start counselling after regaining full mobility.

Mr Ekwall Tiwana, defending, said: "He saw the police and panicked. He is horrified by what he did. He was a man with a significant criminal history who did everything he could to stay out of trouble for ten years during which he found work and a stable relationship."

Then hip surgery left Potter in pain, prompting him to take amphetamines to which he became addicted. He fell into debt with drug dealers who 'told him to commit crime to pay back the money,' claimed the lawyer.

The defendant from Spur Tree Avenue, Castlecroft pleaded guilty to assault while resisting arrest, assaulting the second police officer, burglary and dangerous driving.

He was jailed by Recorder Abigail Nixon who said: "Police officers should not have to risk their lives or serious injury when carrying out their public duty. They were dealing with a standard burglary in progress and were not expecting anything like this.

"You would have felt your car going over part of her body and left her lying on the ground knowing you had knocked her down. You showed no interest in whether she was alive or dead."