Police officer who was injured after being run over gets morale-boosting hospital visit from his beloved dog

A police officer who was seriously injured when he was run over by a hijacked police car, has thanked the public for their support - as he received a morale-boosting visit from his dog.

42-year-old Pc Gareth Phillips got to spend time with his 13-year-old chocolate Labrador Diesel, who was allowed to visit the hospital to say hello and lift his spirits.

Pc Phillips was knocked down and driven over while trying to arrest a suspected car thief after tracing a stolen vehicle to Moseley in Birmingham on 10 August.

The police BMW was hijacked in Moorcroft Road, Moseley, at around 4.45pm and reversed into the officer, knocking him down, before driving over his body as he lay pinned under the vehicle.

One of the first things that Pc Phillips asked about after regaining consciousness was how dog Diesel was.

Supt Dave Twyford, head of Central Motorway Police Group, said:

A fundraising page set up for Pc Phillips has smashed its target of £10,000. It's now reached to almost £14,000.

Mubashar Hussain, aged 29, of no fixed address, was arrested in the Sparkbrook area a short time after the incident and has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of Pc Phillips.

Read more:

• Police officer run over by car thief suspect could face 'life-changing' injuries

• Fundraising page for officer who was run over hits £13,000