A YOUNG man who left a Kent police officer with horrific injuries after running him down in his own patrol car had his attempted murder conviction upheld in London’s Appeal Court.

Ricky Hales, now 21, of Chiltern Grove, Deptford, was jailed for 15 years at the Old Bailey in July last year after he was convicted of the attempted murder of Maidstone traffic policeman PC Guy Miller.

Hales had also pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods - in relation to the motorbike used in a chase - and to aggravated vehicle-taking. His conviction was upheld by Lord Justice Keene along with his 15-year sentence.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Wilkie, said he accepted that Hales had made a "spur-of-the-moment decision" to drive at the officer.

But Hales must have viewed the officer’s life as "of no great significance" if he stood in the way of his escape, the judge added. The 15-year term was not "manifestly excessive", he concluded.

Hales’ co-accused, 19-year-old Maxwell Lancaster, also appeared in court, challenging a total seven-year term imposed for aggravated vehicle taking, and two separate offences of robbery and one of possessing an imitation firearm.

Lancaster, of Conisborough Crescent, Catford, was Hales’ pillion passenger on the stolen motorbike during a chase which preceeded the near-fatal incident. His sentence was cut to six years by the Appeal Court.

PC Miller suffered multiple fractures and was in a coma for two months after the December 2003 incident in which Hales got behind the wheel of his own patrol car, with Lancaster in the passenger seat, and reversed towards him at speed.