The body that represents police officers in Kent has reacted angrily to the "inadequate" sentencing of a teenage dad who reversed into a car, injuring an officer.

The head of the Police Federation said the eight-month suspended sentence handed to John Sherlock, 18, of St Laurence Close, Bapchild, "doesn’t really reflect that level of seriousness".

He had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, assaulting two officers, criminal damage and having no licence or insurance.

He had also reversed into a police vehicle, injuring an officer, Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday.

Kent Police Federation chairman Chris Carter said: "A Kent Police officer has been deliberately driven at and in our view this sentence doesn’t really reflect that level of seriousness.

"Especially when you take into account the fact the chief constable had supplied a statement highlighting the impact of this type of crime on officers and the force.

"What sort of message does that send?

"The Protect The Protectors law coming into being last year was a start but this clearly shows we need to continue to highlight inadequate punishments for those attacking and injuring officers.

"We also need to ensure the judiciary and courts use the powers that they have."

Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley asked the judge to take into account that such offences not only had a serious effect on officers, but caused problems when police vehicles were damaged.

PCs Nigel Moffet and Ian Whitmill were in the car rammed by Sherlock.

PC Whitmill had to take strong painkillers for a neck injury and was referred for physiotherapy.

He suffered a muscle spasm in his neck and back problems and was taken off active duty.

Judge Martin Huseyin said he was prepared to suspend the sentence due to his father being seriously ill, he had a young child and Sherlock's guilty plea.