A police officer has been commended for arresting a violent drink driver who crashed after driving the wrong way round Hammersmith Broadway.

PC Rob Illsley of Shepherd's Bush police was dragged through a car window while holding onto the man after the thug reversed into his police car in Talgarth Road.

The 25-year-old cop started following the man after he refused to stop when officers asked him to.

Pursued by officers, the hooligan then drove the wrong way round the giant Hammersmith Broadway roundabout, before being lost in traffic.

Presenting him with his award, borough police's Chief Inspector Keith Overstall described how PC Illsley, who was alone in his police car, used his in-depth local knowledge of the borough to find the rogue driver who had crashed into barriers at the junction of Talgarth Road and Gliddon Road in West Kensington.

But when the cop approached the criminal, he reversed into the police car and tried to escape.

Despite already having a broken hand from a recent injury, PC Illsley grabbed the lout but was hauled through the car window as the yob struggled towards the passenger door.

The determined but slender copper clung on to his adversary who dragged him into the car and out again, bruised and battered, through the passenger side.

Ch Insp Overstall told the audience the PC showed no regard from his own safety as he continued the struggle in the road, despite being punched and bitten by the thug.

However, the tables were turned when a passing resident, Zimema Muone, came to the rescue and helped the policeman to handcuff his flailing assailant who was arrested and taken to Hammersmith Police Station in Shepherd's Bush Road.

After the incident on August 8 last year, the driver was charged with taking a vehicle without consent, drink driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and assault on police.

Harrow resident PC Illsley, who joined the force at the minimum age of just 18-and-a-half, said his great grand parents had suggested he become a policeman.

"I wish they were here to see me today - they would have been proud," he said.

For more stories of police success see tomorrow's Fulham and Hammersmith Chronicle