THREE teenagers sent to prison in connection with the death of PC Andrew Harper will have their sentences reviewed after the Attorney General asked the Court of Appeal to review them.

Suella Braverman MP has referred the sentences of Henry Long, 19, and Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, who were sentenced to jail for between 13 and 16 years, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

It allows the Attorney General's office to refer cases after receiving complaints that the sentence was too low.

Basingstoke Gazette:

PC Harper was killed in Berkshire near the Hampshire border last August responding to reports of a quad bike theft.

He was caught in a tow rope attached to the getaway vehicle, and died of his injuries after being dragged along the road.

Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition for the verdict of manslaughter to be overturned, after a jury found the defendants not guilty of murder.

Referring the case to the Court of Appeal, Ms Braverman said: "This was a horrific crime which resulted in the death of a much-respected police officer while he was on-duty, protecting his community.

"Having personally considered the details of this shocking case, I have decided to refer the sentences of Pc Andrew Harper's killers to the Court of Appeal.

"Attacks made against emergency workers will not be tolerated and offenders should be punished with the greatest severity for such heinous crimes."

Bowers and Cole this week lodged applications with the Court of Appeal seeking permission to challenge their convictions and their 13-year jail sentences.