Police officer hurt trying to protect runners wins Pride of Britain award

Claire Bond's leg and kneecap were broken

An officer run over when trying to stop a motorist from driving into runners has won a Pride of Britain award.

PC Claire Bond was pursuing a drug dealer who had crashed into parked cars and was heading towards the ongoing Stafford 10k run.

The driver reversed, crushing her against a fence before flipping her in the air and dragging her along the ground, breaking her leg and kneecap.

PC Bond dedicated her award to her husband and all police officers.

She and colleague PC Dave Mullins were called to reports of a car that had crashed into a garage in Coton Fields, Staffordshire, on 3 September 2018.

Claire Bond hopes to return to work

PC Bond, of Walsall, had previously said she knew she had to stop Gurajdeep Mali from 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 remember crying."

Malhi drove at her again but her colleague managed to pull her to safety.

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"To win a Pride of Britain Award, I am totally honoured," she said.

"I still can't get used to it. I was up until 3 o'clock the morning I found out, saying, 'Is this actually happening? This has actually happened hasn't it?'"

She underwent a five-hour operation to save her legs

She underwent a five-hour operation to save her legs and has gone on to raise money for a police charity by completing the 10k race - nine in a wheelchair, but managing to walk the final kilometre with a stick.

PC Bond said she still hoped to return to policing.

Phil Jones, chairman of Staffordshire Police Federation, said the force was "exceptionally proud" of PC Bond and described her as an "inspiration".

Gurajdeep Malhi was jailed for 12 years and nine months

Malhi was tracked down after the incident and cocaine with a street value of more than £2,000 was found in his BMW.

He was jailed in September 2019 for 12 years after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as various driving and drug offences.