TWO police officers have been commended for a drugs bust that ended with a car smashing into the front of a petrol station.

Sgt Alex Nellist and PC Keith Hewitt were struggling to get Stephen MacLaren out of his car when it shot forward and crashed through the front of the Shell garage, in Old Road, Clacton.

A court heard how Sgt Nellist had to let go of MacLaren to stop himself being dragged under the car.

The vehicle ended up smashing into a large plate glass windowworth £3,700.

Police found eight wraps of heroin in the Audi A4.

Both officers were commended by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge and prosecutors were told to pass this on to Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC said: “These two officers were put in considerable danger, but that did not deter them from doing their duty.

“They showed a singular devotion to duty and I commend them both.”

MacLaren, 40, of Windemere Court, Clacton, admitted careless driving, obstructing police, drugs posession and damaging property when he appeared at the court.

He was jailed for a total of 12 months and had six points put on his licence.

Judge Goldstaub said there would be no driving ban because MacLaren has been in custody for six months. MacLaren is due to be released within days.

Robin Miric, prosecuting, told the court both officers were in plain clothes on an undercover drugs operation on March 26 this year.

They saw McLaren’s car, went over to the vehicle and saw him get in and start the engine.

The officers got involved in a struggle and managed to get MacLaren out of the car, but it then shot forward into the garage. The heroin – 0.8g – was discovered in the car later.

MacLaren said it was for his own use.