Millionaire cleared of dangerous driving and assaulting police officer

A 77-year-old millionaire, honoured for his philanthropy by the Prince of Wales, has been cleared of dangerous driving and assaulting a police officer.

Sir Harry Djanogly, 77, was accused of driving off as a police officer clung to the steering wheel of his Jaguar XK sports car on the A40 near Acton, London, on December 27, 2014.

The textile manufacturer, from Angel Court, off Pall Mall, denied the charges and a jury took five and a half hours to return not guilty verdicts on both counts.

Jurors accepted his evidence during a trial at Isleworth Crown Court that he did not deliberately accelerate as Sergeant Robert McDonald held on to the car door.

The incident happened just one month after he was presented with a Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy at St James's Palace for his work with the V&A, Tate and the Chickenshed theatre company.

Sir Harry was allegedly spotted driving at around 70mph in a 50mph zone at around 9pm.

Sergeant McDonald sustained injuries to his knee after the car moved forward after stopping at a red light, causing the officer to cling to the car.

During his evidence, Sir Harry did not deny speeding but said his driving had not been dangerous.

He said he had been taking his wife of 52 years, Lady Carol Djanogly, to St John and St Elizabeth private hospital as he "honestly believed that her life was in danger".

He fought back tears as he described how health problems, including emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), had meant she had been in and out of hospital and intensive care units for the previous five years.

He also apologised to the officer, saying he did not intend to hurt him and did not press on the accelerator to cause the Jaguar to move.

Speaking outside court, Sir Harry's lawyer Nick Freeman, nicknamed Mr Loophole, said: "Mr Djanogly very much regrets the incident and would like to thank the court and the jury for giving his case such careful consideration."