Sir Harry Djanogly tells court he ‘regrets’ incident in which policeman was dragged along while clinging to steering wheel

Millionaire philanthropist Sir Harry Djanogly has apologised to a police officer injured after being dragged along while clinging to the steering wheel of his car.

Djanogly, 77, denied that he had intentionally harmed Sgt Robert McDonald when the officer tried to make him get out of the silver Jaguar.

Giving evidence at Isleworth crown court on the second day of his trial for dangerous driving and assaulting a police officer, Djanogly said he had been taking his wife, Lady Carol Djanogly, to the private St John and St Elizabeth hospital as he “honestly believed that her life was in danger”.

He fought back tears as he described how health problems, including emphysema, had kept his wife in and out of hospital and intensive care units over the past five years.

Djanogly described being pulled over by police for speeding on the A40 near Acton, west London, on 27 December 2014. He was allegedly driving at about 70mph in a 50mph zone and did not deny speeding.

When officers pulled up alongside the car in a police van, Djanogly told them he needed to get his wife to hospital and they should follow; he then pulled away. But when Djanogly stopped at a red light moments later, McDonald approached the driver’s window.

Djanogly said: “I opened the window and explained to him. He said ‘Get out’. I said, ‘Officer, I have explained to you before, I’m taking my wife to hospital and once I’m there …’

“He said ‘Get out’. I said ‘No, I’m going’ and he jumped in through the window.

“I was shocked at the way he just threw himself – it is all happening in seconds.”

Under cross-examination, Djanogly repeatedly denied pressing on the accelerator and claimed that his foot had slipped off the brake pedal as McDonald leaned in, causing the car to move as the officer clung on.

Sir Harry said he did not know how fast the Jaguar had been going or how far it had travelled, but added: “I know if I revved that car we would not see that man for dust – he would, God forbid, have died.”

Once the car came to a stop after McDonald had steered it to the side of the road, Djanogly said he was “pulled” from the car and his back was “wrenched” as he was handcuffed. He apologised to McDonald, who suffered leg injuries and stress after the incident.

Djanogly said: “I regret it. I’m sorry. I’m terribly sorry this happened at all.” In an earlier statement given to police, he said: “I never intended to cause him any harm.”

The court heard that the textile manufacturer had previously been disqualified from driving for collecting too many penalty points for speeding. He is thought to have a personal fortune of about £300m.

The trial continues.

