A WOMAN police officer has told of the horrifying moments she was dragged along by a car when she tried to arrest the driver.

PC Louise Sherlock, who was praised by a judge for her bravery, risked being killed as she was pulled more than 60 feet along the road as the car sped off. But, thanks to her efforts, banned driver John Varley was put in custody for 18 months.

PC Sherlock, 26, who is based in Rochester, said: "I didn't know if I was going to get out of it alive. It shows the extremes people can go to, just to avoid being arrested."

Varley, 18, of London Road, Strood, was banned from driving at the time of the incident. Last Thursday, he was sent to a young offenders' institute for 18 months.

Judge Adele Williams, at Maidstone Crown Court, said he had put the officer's life at risk and congratulated her for her "brave conduct."'

PC Sherlock's ordeal began last December 5 when on plain clothes patrol with colleague PC Gabriel Chandler. At about 11pm they noticed a Ford Escort with five people passing in Whitam Way, Strood, and decided to do a spot check on it. It emerged the driver was Varley, who had been banned since July 2002.

PC Sherlock said: "I was in the gap between the open driver's door and the car and the driver was still in his seat. It looked as if he was going to drive off, so I tried to reach the ignition key and the car then sped off.

"I don't remember how I was hanging from the car but Gabriel later told me my feet were dragging along the ground. I was dragged and fell from the car at the road junction. The car then took off." PC Sherlock was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, suffering cuts to her back, a badly bruised knee and a stiff neck.

The driver was found and arrested in Strood a few days later.

• John Varley, of London Road, Strood, had pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, driving while disqualified and without insurance. Apart from the custodial sentence, he was banned from driving for three years and ordered to take a driving test.