A DANGER driver who dragged a police officer along the road when he tried to remove his car keys has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Triston Japhet panicked when he was stopped after leaving a nightclub and drove off while the officer’s arm was reaching through the window of his black VW Golf.

Japhet, 25, of Durlston Terrace, Wyke, Bradford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at 5.30am on June 30 last year.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday that he was stopped by the police on Queens Road, Bradford, because they suspected he might be unfit to drive.

He was asked to step out of his vehicle but he then turned the engine back on.

When the officer went to grab the keys, Japhet drove off, dragging him four or five yards up the street.

The court heard that the officer remained on his feet and freed his arm as Japhet sped off, crashing into a wall minutes later.

He ran off and hid in woodland but was tracked by a police dog team and apprehended.

Japhet’s barrister, Christopher Moran, said he was a responsible, hard working young man and the offence was wholly out of character.

He was in full time employment and had a long-term partner he planned to set up home with.

Mr Moran pointed to the fact that the case had taken more than a year to come to court and had been hanging over the defendant’s head all that time.

Judge Jonathan Gibson sentenced Japhet to seven months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Japhet must pay £300 towards the cost of the prosecution case.

He was banned from driving for 12 months.