Man jailed for driving into PC near Stafford 10k race

Gurajdeep Malhi was jailed for 12 years and nine months

A banned driver who crushed a police officer against a fence before dragging her along has been jailed for 12 years.

PC Claire Bond, whose leg and kneecap were broken, punched drug dealer Gurajdeep Malhi in the face to stop him driving into runners taking part in the nearby Stafford 10k.

Mahli, 26, from Stafford, fled and was picked up by his girlfriend, who was jailed for two years on Monday.

He admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

He was jailed for a total of 12 years and nine months

The 26-year-old, of Charnley Road, had also previously admitted driving while disqualified and conspiracy to possess a Class A drug with intent to supply.

PC Claire Bond, who has been a police officer for almost 18 years, was at court on Monday

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He was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court, along with his girlfriend Lucy Bullmore, of Morton Road, Stafford.

Bullmore, 31, was jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine and dangerous driving after she picked up Malhi with the aim of helping him escape from police.

Staffordshire Police officer Ms Bond, a mother of four, responded to reports a car had crashed into a garage in Coton Fields, near the route of 10k race on 23 September.

Mahli had smashed into several parked cars in a rented car while trying to flee from a police patrol car, while on licence for committing a similar offence.

Staffordshire Police officer Ms Bond suffered a broken knee cap and leg in the attack

Ms Bond was trapped against a fence, dragged along for about 6ft (2m), and then thrown to the ground, moments after she had attempted to grab the keys from Malhi's BMW.

Malhi fled and was picked up by Bullmore in a Range Rover Evoque.

She drove dangerously while Mahli threw child seats out of the vehicle's windows at pursuing police vehicles, the court heard.

Cocaine with a street value of more than £2,000 was subsequently found in the BMW.

Speaking to the BBC in June, Ms Bond, 47, said she knew she had to stop him driving "because if he got through, he was gonna be just driving straight into the 10k run..."

"I punched him in the face as hard as I could, saying 'get out of the car, stop the car'...

"He's driven me into a fence... [Later] I've looked down and my legs aren't looking good. They're pointing the wrong way and I just, I just remember crying."

Mahli's girlfriend Lucy Bullmore was also jailed for two years on Monday

She said she wanted to go back to front-line duties but said her family "aren't keen" on her returning.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Bond said she had feared for her life and likened Malhi's driving to him "swatting a fly off his car window".

Addressing Mahli from the witness box she said: "Now I have to bear the burden of the aftermath of your selfish decisions."

She added: "Better me than 20 runners with 20 families like mine.

"I believe it was luck that I did my job that day, otherwise you could be sitting through 20 statements just like mine."

Staffordshire Chief Constable Gareth Morgan said he hoped to see the PC return to work.

"I am glad Malhi has been sentenced for his reckless and cowardly actions," he said.

"The impact on Claire physically and emotionally is clear to see and I pay tribute today to her professionalism, courage and determination on the morning she was attacked and in her approach to returning to full health."

Malhi was also given a driving ban of nine years and four months.