TWO police officers, mowed down by a stolen car, have told of the terrifying moment they thought they were going to die.

Sergeant Shaun Pearson and PC Barry James spoke of their ordeal after the gang of ‘professional car thieves’ were jailed for a total of almost 24 years.

The officers, who both live in Accrington, were left with injuries including broken wrists, cuts and bruises, after James Fairburn, 26, sped into them in a limited edition Ford Focus ST, in Cliviger last June.

Fairburn was part of a Bradford gang which Daniel Barker, 28, David Mountain, 25, and Ashley Jones, 23.

Barker, Mountain and Jones had targeted 10 homes in Yorkshire and Burnley between April and June, breaking in through UPVC doors and taking keys for high performance vehicles, which they drove back to Bradford.

On June 12 last year the gang raided a home in Aspen Drive, Burnley.

They stole a laptop, iPod and handbag, as well as the keys to a £27,000 Ford Focus ST and £26,000 Audi A3 from a house in Aspen Drive, Burnley.

But they were spotted by a neighbour who alerted police.

Fairburn was driving the Ford Focus, Mountain the Audi A3 and Barker the Seat Leon, a hire car which the gang arrived in, with Jones in the passenger seat.

They sped along Long Causeway towards West Yorkshire, but officers in Burnley had liaised with their West Yorkshire counterparts, who set up a road block at the county border.

When confronted by the road block Fairburn swerved and turned the car around.

He then sped towards Sgt Pearson and PC James, who were on foot after leaving their vehicle.

In separate collisions the officers were thrown on to the bonnet of the car before being flung to the ground.

After the case PC James said he feared for his life when Fairburn turned the vehicle and headed towards him.

He said: “All I saw was headlights because it was so dark. I had to take four months off work but it had an effect on my home life as well.

"We had just a newborn baby at the time and I wasn’t able to help as much as I would have liked because of my arm.”

Sgt Pearson said: “I am pleased with the sentences which reflect not only the injuries caused to myself and Barry, but also the emotional difficulties experienced by the victims of numerous other burglaries.

“It shows members of the public in Lancashire and West Yorkshire that local police will target offenders and bring them to justice.”

After knocking down the officers, the gang headed back towards Burnley with other police in pursuit.

During the three-mile chase, offenders’ and police officers’ vehicles reached speeds of up to 85mph.

The Seat Leon came to a halt when its tyres were punctured by a stinging device set up by police.

Barker and Jones ran off but were found nearby and arrested.

Former soldier Mountain drove the Audi A3 to Burnley town centre, but was arrested after being spotted on CCTV.

Fairburn was also arrested later that evening.

Burnley Crown Court was told Fairburn was working with the gang for the first time.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt described the gang as a ‘professional team’ of car thieves.

Each of the gang admitted conspiracy to steal. Barker and Mountain admitted dangerous driving.

Fairburn also pleaded guilty to two assaults, relating to knocking down the officers.

Fairburn and Jones were sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment and Barker was given seven years.

Mountain got six years and three months.

The court was told the gang would 'cut up' the vehicles and sell them on.