A DISQUALIFIED driver who tried to drive his car while a police officer clung desperately to the side, before reversing it into a Newport bus, was jailed for a year yesterday.

Two passengers and the driver were injured when Paul Thomas, aged 40, of Dibden Close, Ringland, reversed his car into the bus on January 24.

Cardiff crown court heard that Thomas had panicked and was trying to get away from the police.

Yesterday a judge jailed him for 12 months and disqualified him from driving for 18 months after Thomas pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and stealing a handbag.

The dramatic incident occurred when Sergeant Laurie Oliver approached the car, which was parked illegally on the Kingsway at about 12.20pm.

Thomas got into his car and drove it while Sgt Oliver clung to the vehicle's side. The officer was dragged about 25 metres down the road before members of the public stopped the car near the pedestrian crossing by the Newport Centre. Thomas then reversed his car into a bus as he attempted to escape.

Sgt Oliver smashed the driver's side window and took out the keys before handcuffing the defendant. The court heard that inside the car was a handbag which had been snatched from a woman with a pushchair in the Index store earlier that day.

Following the incident Sgt Oliver, who suffered only minor bruising, said: "It was a bit frightening, to be honest, and if it wasn't for the help of some people, I don't like to think what would have happened. I did what any officer would have done."

Recorder Trevor Jones told Thomas: "You reversed at high speed in a busy road and collided with a bus. I have a public duty to protect the police, pedestrians and motorists."

Thomas' counsel, David Webster, said: "It was a moment of madness," and said prison would have severe consequences for Thomas' family.