TEEN FELT ‘DISGRACEFUL’ OVER COP DEATH – court told

A TEENAGE driver who dragged Pc Andrew Harper to his death told jurors he feels “disgraceful” about what happened.

Henry Long, 19, was trying to steal a £10,000 quad bike from a house in Stanford Dingley, Berks, on August 15 last year.

Pc Harper, 28, had got out of his patrol car to chase after a suspect when his ankles got entangled in a tow strap attached to Long’s Seat Toledo.

He was pulled along winding country lanes for more than a mile before he became disentangled, having suffered catastrophic injuries.

Within hours of the death of Pc Harper (left), Long and his two passengers – Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18 – were arrested.

Long initially denied involvement in the incident and told police in a prepared statement that he had been watching The Goonies and

Fast And Furious DVDs.

Long, Bowers and Cole, from near Reading, have denied Pc Harper’s murder but admitted conspiracy to steal the quad bike.

Long has also admitted Pc Harper’s manslaughter, but denied intending to harm him.

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, he accepted that he had killed Pc Harper.

Defence barrister Rossano Scamardella QC said: “You pleaded guilty to manslaughter – why?

Long replied: “Because I accept that I killed him from what I was doing, the way I was driving.”

The lawyer asked: “How do you feel?” Long said: “Disgraceful.” Long said he was unaware Pc Harper was attached to his car, adding: “If I was aware I would have stopped the vehicle, tried to save him.”

Mr Scamardella said: “Did you ever have any intention to hurt him? Or kill him?”

Long said: “Not in any way.”