A driver who sped away from a pub car park in Larkfield with a plain clothes police officer clinging to the side of his car has been jailed.

A witness said he saw PC John Fordham being flung around like a rag doll, while another said he saw the officer hit a traffic light with such force that he thought he could not have survived.

Lewis Goldswain, 28, a father of three young children, was jailed for three years and three months at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving on July 26, 2014.

The court was told that PC Fordham has been left in pain following the incident in which he was crushed between the car and a traffic light pole.

He fractured a vertebra in his spine and fractured his thigh and the injury to his back has caused internal bleeding for which he will need surgery.

John O’Higgins, prosecuting, said PC Fordham was on plain clothes duty when he saw a gold coloured car suspected of being involved in drug dealing.

He followed it to the Wealden Hall pub car park in London Road, Larkfield.

PC Fordham approached the gold VW Golf which had the engine running and showed his warrant card and said he was a police officer, Mr O’Higgins said.

“The driver looked startled and moved sharply forward,” he added. “PC Fordham reached into the car to try to grab the keys.

"The driver shot off, crossed a traffic island and hit some railings with the top half of PC Fordham’s body still in the car.

“The driver went into reverse and as he went past a traffic light PC Fordham was crushed between the car and the light pole and fell to the ground where he was left lying in the road.”

Witness Mark Torok went to PC Fordham’s aid and placed his own car in the road to protect the officer.

Goldswain was seen driving at speed in the area with his car bumper hanging off.

His car was found in a garage area in Halling, about a mile from his home in Vicarage Road.

The day after the incident Goldswain handed himself in to police. He said he stopped in the pub car park to take a phone call when a man approached and put his hand towards his car keys.

Goldswain said he thought he was going to be robbed and drove off. He said PC Fordham did not show his warrant card.

Mr O’Higgins said a drugs expert examined the Golf and found it had been in substantial contact with cocaine.

It was believed the car had been used for dealing and that Goldswain was involved in that on the day PC Fordham was injured.

Goldswain had no previous convictions and had a clean driving licence.

Thomas Stern, defending, said Goldswain had been continuously employed since leaving school and played an active role in his children’s lives although separated from their mother.

Judge Jeremy Carey told Goldswain: “You were in a state of utter panic because you had good reason not to be stopped by the police.

"Utterly without regard for the officer’s safety you drove your car in the hope that it would get rid of him.

“It did, in circumstances which could have been fatal.

"PC Fordham suffered very serious injuries and to say that this was a terrifying experience is something of an understatement.

He feared for his life with good reason and you made no attempt to get assistance for a man lying grievously injured.

“You should be deeply ashamed of the spineless way you left this man in the street.”

“You should be deeply ashamed of the spineless way you left this man in the street" - Judge Jeremy Carey

Goldswain was also banned from driving for three years and will have to take an extended driving test. His car was also forfeited.

A charge of causing grievous harm with intent, which Goldswain had denied, was left on file.

Judge Jeremy Carey said he wanted publicly to commend PC Fordham’s actions.

Commenting at the end of the case Judge Carey said: “PC Fordham, in my judgement, represents all that is good and worthwhile in those who serve as police officers in the course of duty.

“It would have been easy for him to have stepped back but instead he took steps to disable this vehicle and paid a very high price as a result.

"He is commended by this court.

“This positive commendation for this officer will appear on his police record.”

Judge Carey also praised Mr Torok who, he said, showed commendable humanity and a cool head in what he did.

“He acted in a laudable way in the steps he took,” Judge Carey said.