PC Andrew Harper’s killers have been referred to the Attorney General over claims their jail terms are too lenient.
Henry Long, 19, and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday for manslaughter.
PC Harper, a 28-year-old newlywed who was a traffic officer for Thames Valley Police, died horrifically on August 15 last year.
He had tried to stop the trio fleeing after they stole a quadbike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire.
PC Harper was caught in a crane strap dangling from the back of a Seat Toledo driven by Long, and dragged to his death.
The Attorney General’s Office today confirmed they have been asked to consider if the jail terms handed down are too lenient.
Henry Long (left), 19, and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole (centre) and Albert Bowers (right) were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday for manslaughter
PC Harper (pictured), a 28-year-old newlywed who was a traffic officer for Thames Valley Police, died horrifically August 15 last year.
PC Harper’s widow Lissie (pictured outside the Old Bailey on Friday) had expressed bitter disappointment her husband’s killers were cleared of murder and instead found guilty of manslaughter
Long was sentenced to 16 years, while Cole and Bowers were each handed 13-year terms.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: ‘The Attorney General’s thoughts are with the family and friends of PC Andrew Harper at this difficult time.
‘I can confirm that we have received a request for the cases of Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
‘The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case.’
PC Harper’s widow Lissie had expressed bitter disappointment her husband’s killers were cleared of murder and instead found guilty of manslaughter.
The Attorney General has no power to order a retrial and prosecutors would either need new and compelling evidence to apply for the acquittals to be quashed, or there would need to be proven interference with the jury.
Measures were put in place to protect the jury in the case and one female juror was discharged after she was seen by a prison officer to mouth ‘Bye boys’ to the teenagers in the dock.
But trial judge Mr Justice Edis said there was no evidence the jury had been pressured.
He told the Old Bailey: ‘It may be believed in some quarters that the jury was subject to some improper pressure.
He added: ‘To the best of my knowledge and belief there is no truth in that at all.’
Yesterday footage emerged showing Long shamelessly bragged ‘I’m a real man’ after being arrested outside a pub when he was 15.
The clip, posted on social media in April 2017, shows the teenager being taken to a police car by officers, who he taunts as they attempt to bundle him in.
It was posted on social media by Long’s father, Carl, two years before PC Harper’s brutal death.
The video starts with an officer speaking to Long who is surrounded by police officers.
Footage, uncovered by The Sun , of the incident in April 2017 shows the-then teenager being taken to a police car by officers, who he taunts as they attempt to bundle him in.
As Long is being detained by police officers he is heard to shout ‘I’m a real man, a real man.’
As Long shouts, he is seen to jump up as unamused officers continue to restrain him. Meanwhile officers around Long continue to calm his family and friends.
As he is being spoken to, Long shouts: ‘Look at how many cops it takes to do me boys. I’m a real man, a real man.’
As he shouts this, he is seen to jump up as the irritated officers continue to restrain him.
Meanwhile policeman around Long continue to calm his family and friends during the arrest.
Long is handcuffed by officers before shouting: ‘Beat the s*** out of me? You can’t do f*** all.’
He repeats the taunt three more times as police continue to try to get him in their car.
His father Carl is heard saying in the background: ‘Look at how many there are of them, all for him.’
Family and friends later encourage Long to co-operate with police and get into the car, saying: ‘Henry, get in. Get in.’
It is not clear why Long was being arrested or whether he was charged.
MailOnline has contacted police and the Crown Prosecution Service for more information.