A drug dealer who drove at two police officers after being pulled over has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Kevin Oteng reversed his hire car as the constables walked towards him in Summervale Road, Tunbridge Wells.

Judge Julian Smith, sitting at Maidstone Crown Court, said it was “pure good fortune” and the officers’ “desperate movements” to avoid being struck that they did not suffer catastrophic injuries.

The 26-year-old of Wodehouse Avenue, Camberwell, London, had been stopped as part of a drugs crackdown in March 2014.

The court heard he knew he was being watched as he later admitted he had “clocked them as Feds”.

But Oteng, said to live on the “notorious” North Peckham Estate in London where 10-year-old Damilola Taylor was stabbed to death in a stairwell in 2000, denied deliberately driving at the officers.

The jury believed him, clearing him of two offences of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was, however, convicted of dangerous driving.

One officer suffered bruising to his leg and the other an impact arm injury.

Before his trial, Oteng had admitted two charges of possession of class A drugs, heroin and cocaine, with intent to supply.

Elise Jeremiah, defending, said the Canterbury Christ Church University student was himself shot in 2011 and had to have a police guard at his bed in London’s King’s College Hospital.

Urging that his sentence be deferred to allow him to graduate from his three-year graphic design degree she said: “He appreciates what the police do as part of their day to day duty.

“He never, as has been found, intended to hurt them and wants to make that very clear.”

But Judge Smith said Oteng’s “considered, direct and exceptionally dangerous” driving had to be met by a substantial and immediate jail term.

Oteng, who is also due to become a father in March, was also given a three-year driving ban.

Oteng has previous convictions for robbery, having a bladed article and common assault, and had 27 drugs packages worth up to £810 on him when arrested.

Miss Jeremiah said he became addicted to drugs after taking strong medication for his shooting injury.