A teenager who drove off in a police car, dragging an officer 400 yards, has been locked up for three years.

Steven Sparkes ignored PC Sam Hollins’s pleas to stop after the officer’s arm became trapped, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

PC Hollins suffered abrasions, a back injury and ligament damage to his ankle during the incident in Shipley on May 29.

Sparkes, 19, of Sandholme Drive, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, admitted escape, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest, dangerous driving, taking the car without consent and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Prosecutor John Topham said Sparkes was ordered to sit in the back of the patrol car after police were called to a disturbance in Trenance Drive at 3am.

Sparkes jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off. PC Hollins’s arm became trapped and he was forced to run alongside. He fell and Sparkes sped off before abandoning the car.

PC Hollins’s had a cast on his ankle and was off work for six weeks. He suffered psychological trauma.

Sparkes and Christopher Fletcher, 21, of Folkestone Holme, Fagley, Bradford, admitted two attempted burglaries on June 6 last year. While on remand in Doncaster Prison, they assaulted Sheryar Hussain, of Bradford, who was serving a sentence for drugs offences.

Both admitted causing him grievous bodily harm in his cell on June 18.

Sparkes’s solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, said he knew his behaviour to PC Hollins was appalling. He was “gutted” and apologised.

David McGonigal, for Fletcher, said he was remorseful.

Sparkes was sent to a young offender institution for three years and banned from driving for two years. Fletcher was jailed for 12 months.

After the case, Chief Superintendent Allan Doherty, of Airedale and North Bradford Police, said: “We are pleased Sparkes has received a custodial sentence for this offence in which he injured an officer, who showed considerable bravery in attempting to stop a moving vehicle.

“Sparkes’s actions were reprehensible. This matter serves to remind us of the dangers police officers can often face in serving to keep our streets safe from the likes of violent and lawless individuals such as Steven Sparkes.”