A DRIVER has been jailed for mowing down a police officer and dragging him down the road on his bonnet.

PC Michael Corner was dragged along the bonnet of a Toyota Corolla being driven by Gary Boote after trying to stop the erratically driven vehicle in Bradshawgate, Bolton.

Boote, aged 23, initially appeared to stop but drove forward forcing PC Corner to “launch himself onto the bonnet to protect himself from being seriously hurt” during the incident in the early hours of Sunday, September 9.

Carmel Wilde, prosecuting, said Boote, of Rusheylea Close, Halliwell, revved the engine loudly and PC Corner managed to grab hold of the door pillar of the open driver's window but the defendant continued to speed along Bradshawgate towards Bank Street.

Liverpool Crown Court heard PC Corner fell off the vehicle but fortunately only suffered a grazed knee and hurt his shoulder. He lost his £100 watch and his uniform was damaged.

Boote was also sentenced for an incident on December 21 involving James Farrell, aged 27, of Beechcroft Avenue, Breightmet.

Both defendants started banging on the door where Kirsty Atherton, aged 22, Farrell’s former girlfriend of 16 months lived in Bickershaw, Wigan.

When Miss Atherton’s father refused to let them in Farrell smashed a panel in the door and got in.

Boote was standing in the doorway armed with a tyre iron which Farrell had given him.

Ben Brookes, Miss Atherton’s new boyfriend, was punched in the face three times by Farrell.

Before leaving he said to the couple, “You’re dead”, said Miss Wilde.

Both men were later arrested and while on remand in prison Farrell got another man to write two letters calling the victims “grasses”.

Andrew Costello, defending Boote, said he was “very immature” and said he had no intention of using his car as a weapon.

Colin Buckle, defending, said Farrell had been upset that Miss Atherton had formed a new relationship so quickly.

In a Facebook message he had told her, “I loved you with all of my heart, you have broken it into little pieces”.

Mr Buckle said Farrell knew he had been “a prat” for sending the letters from prison.

Boote pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assault with intent to resist arrest and affray.

He was banned from driving for three years and jailed for 26 months.

Farrell admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, threatening to damage property and witness intimidation.

He also admitted being in breach of two conditional discharges for assaulting two police officers. He was jailed for 28 months.

Judge Robert Warnock, sentencing Boote, said: “You effectively dragged him for a considerable period of time.”