A father-of-five is facing jail after dragging a police officer along a road while he clung onto the driver’s door as he sped off.
Tony Atherton was spotted by police behind the wheel of a Ford Puma driving in a dangerous manner around residential streets in Chatham on October 31.
Tony Atherton was remanded in custody
Officers decided to stop him and he initially pulled over and got out.
However, as he was being spoken to he jumped back in and drove off at speed, with the policeman holding onto the door being dragged along the road.
The officer had to let go of the vehicle for his own safety but not before he’d been dragged between 5ft and 10ft along the road.
Atherton, 41, of Chalky Bank Road, Gillingham, was arrested and charged with three driving-related offences and two separate shoplifting offences.
He admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a licence and the two theft offences when he appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on November 3.
Atherton was spotted driving dangerously in Palmerston Road and nearby Kitchener Avenue
The court heard he drove dangerously on October 31, in Letchworth Avenue, Palmerston Road and Kitchener Avenue, Chatham.
Additionally, on June 4, he stole 20 packs of chewing gum worth £300 from B&M in Queenborough and on June 14, he returned to the shop and swiped another £381 worth of confectionery.
Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, told District Judge Stephen Leake the dangerous driving happened before and after a police officer had stopped Atherton in Chatham.
He added: “Officers were following the vehicle, and it stopped, and the defendant got out, but then got back in, and a police officer was in his doorway.
“He then drove dangerously away, and the officer was dragged five to 10 feet attached to the car.
Officers stopped Atherton after seeing him drive dangerously. Picture: iStock
“He was unable to get him to stop, and the officer had to bail out.”
It is understood that the officer was not injured during the incident.
Judge Leak also heard Atherton had previously been convicted of two similar driving offences.
Mr Sweeney added: “He’s got two previous, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving and was jailed for 12 months.”
Because of the seriousness of the driving offences and the fact Atherton had similar previous convictions, the prosecutor said the case should be sent to the crown court for sentencing.
Tony Atherton appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court. Stock picture
He added: “The theft should go up as well.”
Simon Pettican, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty to all the charges at the earliest opportunity and said, despite being in and out of custody, he’d not had any intervention from probation.
He added: “He knows he’s messed things right up, but he’s not offended for three years.”
Judge Leake agreed to send the case to Maidstone Crown Court and remanded him in custody until then.
He also placed Atherton on an interim driving ban until he’s sentenced, which will be on a date to be determined.
