Police search the scene, where Thames Valley Police officer Pc Andrew Harper, 28, died following a 'serious incident'. I have no motivation or even daily routine - chores or cooking a meal, it just feels pointless now. 'He was barely alive and PC Harper died soon after where he lay in Ufton Lane in the company of fellow officers who had tried desperately to save him. [14][20], At 00:50 on 16 August, police arrested an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old male at the caravan site. Separately, Harper's mother launched a campaign to require killers of police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20 years. contact the editor here. She said the teenagers who were found not guilty of murder "took more than one life away that day, they stole the person I used to be". The Telegraph 2.99M subscribers Three teenagers have been convicted of killing Pc Andrew Harper as they evaded arrest. [12][18] The SEAT crossed the A4 into Ufton Lane near Sulhamstead, and Harper became disentangled. PC Andrew Harper, 28, was dragged to his death by a car in Berkshire, prosecutors say 'The report, which was made by the homeowner, Peter Wallis, indicated that three or four masked and. As the retrial began in June, new jurors were placed 2m (6ft 6in) apart, while members of the press and the public followed proceedings on monitors in neighbouring courtrooms. We are devastated. Det Supt Stuart Blaik, the senior investigating officer in the case, said his team didn't have an "awful lot to go on in the very early stages". Police forces,. An Old Bailey jury acquitted all three defendants of murder on Friday, instead convicting Cole and Bowers of manslaughter. Mark White Home affairs correspondent @skymarkwhite Monday 30 November 2020 17:47, UK [39], On 28 August, Long applied for permission to appeal against his sentence, on the basis that it was too severe. Jurors were told Long, Cole and Bowers had been trying to escape police, having been caught in the act of stealing a quad bike. Mr Laidlaw said: 'PC Harper was completely naked apart from his socks, the heavy boots he was wearing and some ripped shreds of the trousers of his police uniform, which remained attached to his body. On 15 August 2019, 28-year-old English police constable Andrew Harper was killed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England in the line of duty. He was dragged for. Photographs of the pair on their wedding day at Ardington House, a Georgian manor in Oxfordshire, have been released. Witness Jack Whittenham, who was driving on the same road at the time, described seeing the body of PC Harper being dragged along the road and hitting the curb, before becoming detached from the vehicle. [48] Harper's Law did not affect the sentences of the three men already imprisoned for killing Andrew Harper.[50]. A Post Mortem was carried out on Andrews body yesterday, and the cause of death has been recorded as multiple injuries. I quickly realised it was a person. 13:30 EST 01 Jul 2020 Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Finally, our thoughts remain with Andrews friends, family and colleagues.. Instead, he came across what turned out to be PC Harper's stab vest in the road, which had been torn from him. On August 15 last year, PC Harper attended reports of a quad bike theft in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, at about 11.17pm. Security around the first trial into PC Harper's death was stepped up after police uncovered a plot by "associates of the defendants to intimidate the jury". His uncle Dale Shrimpton posted: "He's my oldest Nephew. The Thames Valley Police officer, 28, died after being dragged for more than a mile along . As news. Chef, Sarah and Harry.". 'Henry Long, sped off, PC Harper was lassoed around his ankles by the loop of the strap. Ms Kent told a press conference: "A post-mortem was carried out on Andrew's body yesterday and the cause of death has been recorded as multiple injuries. PC Andrew Harper died a hero in the line of duty. Widow Mrs Harper told the court: "This is my third attempt at writing a statement. At 11.17pm on August 15 last year, homeowner Peter Wallis called 999 to report thieves making off with his quad bike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire. PC Harper, known as Harps, and his colleague PC Andrew Shaw, were in the area in an unmarked police BMW when they responded to the 999 call, more than four hours after their shift was due to end. I just knew he was in trouble.". contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. [14] In a separate operation, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder. "[48] The law was added to the statute book on 28 April 2022[49] and is now law. Something went wrong, please try again later. hometown of Wallingford in Oxfordshire decorated shop windows with ribbons representing the "thin blue line". Andrew Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car causing his death. PC Harper was killed last August when he was dragged for more than a mile behind a car after trying to intercept quad bike thieves. The jury went on to view the 10,000 red Honda quad bike parked in the drive outside its owner's period property, as it had been on the night it was snatched. Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent of the Major Crime Unit said: Our complex investigation into the death of PC Andrew Harper continues and I want to take this opportunity to provide an update. 21:19 EST 01 Jul 2020. Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent, of Thames Valley Major Crime Unit, said the 28-year-old died of multiple injuries while responding to a burglary. 'With Jessie Cole now in the car, Henry Long drove off at speed, flooring the accelerator to make good their escape. Mr Laidlaw said Pcs Harper and Shaw, in an unmarked BMW, drove onto Admoor Lane where they came face-to-face with the SEAT Toledo, driven by Long. He added that they had "hand-held things" and were "all masked" during the call that was played out in court, in which he asked the operator to send someone round to his house. A post-mortem revealed the devastating effect of even the initial injuries, thought to have been sustained when the back of PC Harper's head struck the ground. Mrs Harper said "the messages, support and kind words" had been "overwhelming". The court heard homeowner Peter Wallis had reported masked thieves making off with the valuable Honda quad bike from his house in Bradfield Southend, near Reading, at 11.17pm. Pc Harper, who has been described by his uncle as the "loveliest person that you will ever meet", married his wife Lissie just four weeks ago. All three were standing trial for murder, but the jury found them guilty. Jurors were shown harrowing footage of the incident recorded on camera attached to the officers unmarked BMW patrol car. On Saturday, forensics officers were seen searching a caravan site on Padworth Road around three miles away from the scene, with two vans appearing to block the entrance. [3] He was educated at The Henley College, where he showed an ambition for joining the police. The Seat driver, Henry Long, 19, and passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, from near Reading, are charged with his murder. The officer on duty with PC Harper was not physically injured but is being given emotional support, Thames Valley Police said. Ten males aged between 13 and 30 have been. Pc Shaw told jurors: I thought maybe he slipped on something. The defendants have admitted conspiring to steal the quad bike but have denied Pc Harper's murder. "Andrew was such a good man, a brave, a caring person, funny and uplifting. Editors' Code of Practice. YESTERDAY'S LISTS. PC Andrew Harper Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper died while on duty on Thursday, August 15 after responding to reports of a burglary between Reading and Newbury. "I thought maybe he slipped on something. She said the 10 boys and men had been arrested at council-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner, about three miles from where PC Harper died. During the investigation, police officers and staff took 1,250 statements, visited more than 1,000 homes and pursued 1,122 lines of inquiry. "Unwittingly" stepping with both feet into the trailing tow-strap, the officer became "lassoed" to the vehicle as it sped off and dragged him just over a mile before he became detached from the vehicle and died in the road. Mr Wallis told the Thames Valley Police operator: Ive got four masked men outside my house and theyve got weapons. A 999 call, played in court, heard how owner Peter Wallis said four masked men were outside his home with weapons and how he asked for someone to attend. and Police release update on PC Andrew Harpers death, READ MORE: Murder investigation launched as policeman killed in line of duty, READ MORE: Family release image of newlywed policeman PC Harper, READ MORE: Police raid travellers' site as part of murder probe. [41] "He will never get to be called 'daddy' or hold his own child - we imagined this was not too far away in the future. "I love and miss him daily with every passing moment. 09 July 2020 A teenager has denied concocting a "cynical lie" to evade responsibility for the death of Pc Andrew Harper, who was dragged behind a car in Berkshire. Read about our approach to external linking. Long was acquitted of murder at the Old. A group of officers could be seen gathered around floral tributes reading messages to their fallen colleague. (1) the Attorney-General's application for permission to refer the sentences as unduly lenient; It's clear he has a catastrophic series of injuries and there's nothing that can be done for him.". Detective supt Kent added: I want to thank local residents for their patience and cooperation while we carried out this vital work, and other enquiries at a number of other scenes across West Berkshire. "Four weeks was all I had with my husband - four weeks to be called his wife. Credit: PA On Saturday, forensics officers were seen searching a caravan. Lists of casualties sustained by the New Zealand forces in the recent fighting on the western front were telegraphed b inaccuracy or intrusion, then please [5][28][29], The trial was temporarily suspended on 17 and 18 March as a member of the jury was unwell. Mr Laidlaw said all three defendants should have known the consequences of their actions. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Read about our approach to external linking. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's PC Shaw, giving evidence, described the moment that his crew-mate appeared to fall over and disappeared from view, saying it was like a water-skier. Pc Andrew Harper Thames Valley police Monday 15 August 2022, 3:49pm PC Andrew Harper died of multiple injuries after attending to reports of a burglary in Berkshire. Following a pause, he continued: F*** me, theyve already taken it.. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The policemen switched their blue and white emergency lights on, and PC Harper ran to intercept Cole - coming 'pretty close' to grabbing the suspect - before Cole 'dived' through one of the windows. It looked like a rag doll.". "We go towards trouble, we don't run away from it," he said. "Our grandson Andrew was killed last night while doing his police work. Detective Supt Ailsa Kent added: "I can confirm that the males were arrested from a local authority-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner, in Reading Road near Burghfield Common. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. The best way he could describe it was like a waterskier, he said: "Feet whipped forward and you land on your back - that's how Harps fell.". It will be obvious to you all that none of the defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen. The 12 men and women were accompanied by barristers, the trial judge and members of the press for the trip held under strict social distancing rules. Read about our approach to external linking. VideoChess gets a risqu makeover, The Nigerian influencers paid to manipulate your vote, How a baffling census delay is hurting Indians, How Mafia boss was caught at a clinic after 30 years. Officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries, reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing witnesses and conducting forensic examinations, Det Supt Kent added. [22] A fourth male, a 21-year-old from Basingstoke, was charged with conspiracy to steal a quad bike and subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge. The detective said the "challenge was always going to be identifying who was in the car at that particular time", due to it being used by several people. The victim was likely knocked unconscious from the moment he hit the ground with a post-mortem revealing 'very serious injury to the brain,' the court heard. "My life often feels bleak, hopeless, irreparable. They were cleared of his murder. The body of PC Andrew Harper's was 'too damaged' for his family to see, his mum revealed in a heartbreaking victim impact statement. As Long drove around the police car to escape, PC Harper got out of his vehicle and tried to apprehend Cole, who had unhitched the bike and was running behind the Seat driven by Long. PC Harper had been dragged for more than a mile for 91 seconds, at an average speed of 42.5mph, before his body was dislodged. Describing the moment PC Harper got caught in the strapping, prosecutor Mr Laidlaw told jurors: 'What of course PC Harper had not seen, but each of these defendants would have known, was that the loop of strapping now on the ground and being dragged behind the SEAT was still attached to the hinge of the boot lid of the vehicle. [11][15], The SEAT was later found at Four Houses Corner travellers' site[20] near Burghfield Common[21] by a police helicopter using thermal imaging. His fellow officers "desperately tried to save him" but he had. The pair. It was a decision that would cost PC Harper his life. Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? A small circle of blue and white painted stones had been laid on the verge in tribute to the officer, with one saying 'when your heart stopped beating a part of me died'. 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