Pc Andrew Harper’s killers to have sentences reviewed by Court of Appeal

The prison sentences handed to Pc Andrew Harper’s killers have been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General for judges to decide whether they were too lenient.

Suella Braverman was asked to review the terms after Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, were jailed for manslaughter at the Old Bailey last month.

Pc Harper, a Thames Valley Police traffic officer, got caught in a crane strap attached to the back of a car driven by Long as the teenagers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

He was dragged to his death on August 15 last year along dark country lanes.

Long was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Bowers and Cole were handed 13-year jail terms.

The Attorney General said on Friday: “This was a horrific crime which resulted in the death of a much-respected police officer while he was on duty, protecting his community.

“Having personally considered the details of this shocking case, I have decided to refer the sentences of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers to the Court of Appeal.

“Attacks made against emergency workers will not be tolerated and offenders should be punished with the greatest severity for such heinous crimes.”