A POLICE officer was dragged along the ground and a colleague injured as they tried to stop an attempted car theft, a court heard.

Police Constable Stephen Jenkins was caught as John Ley, 20, of Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, tried to drive away, Cardiff crown court was told.

He then crashed into a police dog handler's van, causing driver PC Stephen Glynne a head injury.

Ley admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, causing actual bodily harm, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Recorder Philip Rees told him: "I'm sick and tired of this kind of irresponsible, dangerous behaviour. You imperilled two hardworking police officers.

"You engaged in one of the most anti-social, and malicious of acts - attempting to hot-wire and drive away a vehicle."

That vehicle, he said, was so badly damaged it was a write-off. "Such offences cause the public frustration and anger," said Mr Rees. Prosecutor Sue Ferrier said that on Sunday, May 18, a resident in Clifton Road, Newport, saw two men, one of them the defendant, trying to steal a Vauxhall car.

He called the police and gave them "a running commentary" on what was happening.

Two witnesses arrived within minutes and saw Ley "frantically tampering" with the ignition wires. PC Stephen Jenkins told him to get out but the door was locked.

The officer then smashed a window. Ley started the engine and drove along, dragging the officer about 20 yards before the car collided with a dog handler's van and injuring PC Glynne.

Ley was arrested shortly afterwards, apologised, said he panicked and that his foot slipped off the clutch.

Stephen Thomas, defending, said Ley had lost control of the car. He had no intention of end-angering or hurting the officers.

"It was extreme recklessness and he expressed immediate rem-orse," he said.

Ley was sentenced to nine months in a young offenders' institution, disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to take another driving test.