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A police officer says she was off work for three weeks after a dangerous driver drove over her foot and reversed over her thigh.

Leicestershire PC Niamh Harriman was "appalled" after the offender was spared jail for dangerous driving and assault.

Dakota Henton, 29, of Dodsworth Close, Leicester, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 52 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, earlier this month.

PC Harriman told Leicestershire Police Federation: “I’m honestly appalled by the sentence."

The officer is now back at work after she suffered cuts and bruises and a sprained hip in the incident in Leicester in February.

She was on duty with colleagues when Henton tried to drive off.

The federation said: "PC Harriman leant into the car through the open passenger door to try to get the car keys, but the woman started the engine, put her foot on the reverse pedal, and drove over the officer’s foot.

"PC Harriman was knocked to the ground by the car door, went under the door and then the woman reversed over her thigh."

Henton pleaded guilty to two assaults on an emergency worker – PC Harriman and PC Toby Wilson – as well as failing to provide a specimen for analysis, dangerous driving and driving without a licence.

She was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on 15 May, and received a 20-month driving ban.

PC Henton added: "I think it’s disgusting that she can use a car as a weapon, so that’s an aggravating factor, and then she just gets a slap on the wrist for what she’s done."

The case comes as the federation said more than two Leicestershire police officers were assaulted on duty every day, which was "unacceptable".

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