PC Andrew Harper murder trial: Accused 'tried to escape at all costs'

PC Andrew Harper was responding to a report of a quad bike theft in Berkshire

The men in a car that dragged a police officer to his death tried to get away "at all costs", a court has heard.

PC Andrew Harper was killed when he got caught in a towing strap, trailing behind a car trying to evade him.

The defendants' Seat Toledo had close calls with other vehicles on the road as they tried to avoid capture from pursuing police, the Old Bailey heard.

Henry Long, 18, of Mortimer, Reading, and two 17-year-old boys deny murdering the 28-year-old last August.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said Mr Long was driving when PC Harper, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, responded to a report of a quad bike theft near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, with PC Andrew Shaw.

He said PC Christopher Bushnell, in another car, pursued the Seat over the Kennet and Avon Canal, which is only wide enough for one vehicle to cross at a time.

Steph Fox, who was driving in the opposite direction, had to swerve into a hedge to avoid being hit.

'Driver in a rush'

Mr Altman said the Seat headed towards Ufton Court, where a wedding was being held.

After failing to overtake a coach collecting guests, the Seat turned around and drove back in the direction from which it had come in the defendants' bid "not to get caught at all costs", Mr Altman said.

The court heard PC Bushnell, who had stopped in a fork in the road, saw the Seat heading towards him.

Mr Altman said: "In his view, the driver had deliberately chosen to drive straight at him.

"Had he not responded by pulling to his nearside, he would also have been struck.

"This evidence further demonstrates the defendants' determination to escape and not get caught at all costs."

The court heard call data from phones suggested the three defendants headed to the Four Houses Corner caravan site.

Police arrived there at about 23:45 BST and officers were directed to the "hot" Seat Toledo by the police helicopter, the jury was told.

Henry Long (left) and two 17-year-old defendants - who cannot be identified due to their age - are in the dock at the Old Bailey

Earlier the court heard how PC Harper and PC Shaw "chanced upon" the defendants' vehicle towing the bike by a crane strap, which was wound around the handlebars.

Mr Altman said the defendant on the bike dismounted and unhitched it, and PC Harper got out of the police car and began to run to intercept him.

The court heard PC Harper did not realise where the loop of the strap was, and stepped into it with both feet.

At about 23:30 BST he "disappeared" from the view of the dashcam of his police car, the jury was told.

Mr Long "floored" the car, driving at an average speed of 42.5mph, with the policeman "shackled behind" the vehicle for more than a mile, the court heard.

Witness Jack Whittenham, who was driving on the A4 at the time, said he initially thought it was a deer attached to the car.

He said he saw a person "trapped by both ankles with arms flailing around", which he described as "like a rag doll".

Arriving on the scene, PC Andy Kemp turned into Ufton Lane and realised PC Harper had "sustained utterly catastrophic injuries", Mr Altman said.

The court heard pathologist Dr Fegan-Earl, who carried out post-mortem tests, said PC Harper fell "violently to the ground in an unprotected manner, sustaining a head injury which would have resulted in deep unconsciousness".

He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

PC Andrew Harper sustained a head injury when he hit the ground

Mr Altman said a reconstruction of the events by police took place in September, which involved using a mannequin.

The barrister said Simon Hall, a consultant of the Transport Research Group, drove the car and "it was his opinion that anyone driving the Seat could not fail to be aware that something of significant weight was being dragged behind the vehicle".

Mr Altman also read out a statement used by Mr Long's solicitor when he was interviewed under caution.

Mr Long claimed he was watching films with family members at the caravan site on the night of the killing, and said he was "not involved" in the death of PC Harper.

'Clearly lying'

Mr Altman said Mr Long said he had "never been to a house... looking at quad bikes".

Mr Altman told the jury: "In view of his acceptance now that he was the driver of that car, he was clearly lying."

PC Simon Denton, who arrested Mr Long on suspicion of murder, recalled Mr Long saying: "Look at me. Do I look like a murderer?"

In a second interview, the court heard, that when he was asked about having a mobile phone Mr Long replied he could not use one because he did not know how to read.

Concluding the prosecution's case, Mr Altman said: "Not only did [Mr Long] know he was dragging a policeman, but also he intended by his actions to dislodge him from the strap to make good on what had been the plan all along.

"The fact that neither Long nor the other two defendants had planned for or even wanted Constable Harper to become caught in the strap is neither here nor there."

Mr Altman said while Mr Long, as the driver, was the "primary party or the principal", the other two were "secondary parties".

He added: "With Long... as part of their criminal venture, if the need arose, really serious bodily harm would be meted out to anyone who sought to disrupt them or prevent their escape or apprehend them."

Mr Long has previously admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike.

On Monday, the two 17-year-olds, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike. The pair deny manslaughter.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.