THIS is the dramatic moment a brave pensioner clung to his car as he tried to stop a thief from stealing his vehicle at a Southampton petrol station.

Seconds later he was dragged nearly 100m along a busy city road before falling from the passenger door.

He was left with a fractured skull and injuries to his arms, spine and legs.

The 73-year-old spent a week in hospital with a blood clot in his brain after the terrifying ordeal in Winchester Road.

Carjacker Craig Collier, 24, is now starting a six year jail sentence after he was found guilty of grievous bodily harm at Southampton Crown Court.

Collier, of Canberra Towers in Weston, had only been released from prison weeks before the incident for driving offences, the court heard.

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The pensioner had filled the Renault Scenic at the garage and had moved it to put air in the tyres but left the credit card style key in the ignition. The court heard how Collier had been with a 16-year-old boy and had watched the victim on the forecourt and taken an interest in the vehicle before jumping in the driving seat.

The victim was trying to put air in a tyre when Collier then reversed the vehicle.

The jury was shown CCTV footage which showed the pensioner running after the car and opening the passenger door to get inside as Collier tries to speed away from the forecourt.

The court heard how Collier drove off at such high speed that the car travelled at least 80 metres before the pensioner fell away and landed in the road.

Judge Thomas Longbotham told Collier, who has 23 convictions for 59 offences, he had carried out a “terrible” crime which had left his victim with serious injuries.

“The CCTV evidence clearly shows that he – the victim – very bravely is not going to let go if he could possibly help it,” he said.

Collier was sentenced to six years after a jury found him guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was also sentenced to 14 months concurrently after pleading guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, and given an additional four months on top of his six year sentence after admitting driving while disqualified.

Detective Gary Steward told the Daily Echo that the case highlighted the dangers of leaving keys inside unsecure vehicles while at a petrol station.

“When he intervened and did his public duty to stop the thief he paid for his bravery and was dragged up the road suffering severe injuries.”