A DANGEROUS driver being chased by police dragged an officer and steward along by his motorbike after being ordered to stop along Southend seafront, a court has heard.

The officer and steward had been trying to detain Romaie Simpson, 23, when he pulled them along for a short distance during the popular motorbike event, Southend Shakedown.

The steward was left with a broken knee following the incident back on April 18.

Simpson, of Sutton Grove, Sutton, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with his licence during a court hearing earlier this year.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, where he was sentenced to one year in prison.

Prosecuting, Jamie Sawyer, said: “He caught the attention of police and made a U-turn and was followed by the officer and he undertook a number of bikes.

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“He failed to stop for police and then hit another bike, which caused a number of others to fall over too.

“When he grabbed his bike, he dragged the man and officer along the street and the man suffered a broken leg.”

Summarising a victim impact statement on behalf of the injured steward, Mr Sawyer said: “He suffered sleepless nights, is unable to work as a lorry driver and is struggling financially.

“He feared going out for a time and had problems doing things about the house.”

He told the court Simpson was driving the motorbike without insurance and with false number plates.

The court heard Simpson was on licence after being released from prison for burglaries at the time of the offence.

Mitigating, Marianna Pasteris said: “He is very remorseful and showed this at the scene and was apologetic. He had been doing well and turning his life around since his release from prison.”

Simpson was jailed for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Hurst said: “Your actions caused significant damage to his knee and the consequences for him have been profound and long lasting. You’re responsible for all that because of your foolish and selfish actions in trying to get away. You do not seem to learn and you and vehicles do not mix.”