Sonny Horgan of Dibden Purlieu jailed after dragging police officer down Hythe road with his car

AN "immature" Dibden Purlieu man who dragged a police officer down the road with his car has been jailed for a year.

Sonny Horgan (21), of Kensington Fields, was also banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Horgan wept when he appeared before Southampton Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of cannabis.

Horgan had also previously admitted two counts of failing to provide a specimen for drug testing to police officers.

Prosecutor Emily Lanham told judge Christopher Parker police officers were dealing with a road accident in Atheling Road, Hythe, at around 4am on 18th April last year when Horgan drove past officers "suspiciously".

The court heard Horgan stopped a short distance from the accident and that officers could smell cannabis in the vehicle when they went to talk to him.

Ms Lanham said that when an officer told Horgan to surrender his car keys, Horgan instead started his car and drove forward about 10 metres with the officer's arm "stuck" in the car door.

The court heard the officer had to reach into the vehicle with his other hand to turn off the engine and stop the vehicle.

Horgan also used his car door to push a second police constable onto the floor, causing him minor injuries, before attempting to flee.

Horgan was arrested and twice refused to give samples for testing, claiming instead that he had been the victim of an assault, the court was told.

The prosecution also said Horgan committed these offences shortly after reaching the end of a driving ban handed down for a prior offence.

Mitigating, defence barrister Edward Warren told the court his client deserved credit for his guilty pleas.

Mr Warren also said: "He's an immature young man, somebody lacking in emotional maturity. These combination of factors are at the root of his offending."

The court heard Horgan goes to college and is training to become a bricklayer with his father's help. Mr Warren also said Horgan has a 10-month-old daughter.

Handing down sentence, Judge Parker told Horgan his offences had been "dangerous".

For the offence of dangerous driving, Horgan was jailed for 12 months and disqualified from driving for a total of three-and-a-half years.

For assault, Horgan was handed a concurrent three-month jail term.

There was no separate penalty on the charge of possession of cannabis or on the two counts of failing to provide a specimen for testing.

After the hearing, Police Staff Investigator Jordan Clayton, said: “Justice has now been served and Sonny Hogan will remain in prison for a lengthy time for the crimes that he has committed.

“Assaults on police will not be tolerated. Police officers and staff perform a difficult and often dangerous role, but we do not view assaults as simply being part of the job.

“Officers and staff come into contact with people who are sometimes going through the worst experience of their lives, but this doesn’t give people the right to ever verbally or physically abuse them."