Teenagers Sentenced to 42 Years in Jail for Killing British Policeman

The "Lady of Justice", a 12 foot high, gold leaf statue is pictured on top of the dome of the Central Criminal Court, commonly referred to as The Old Bailey in central London, on Aug. 21, 2016. Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images

LONDON—Three British teenagers were sentenced to a combined 42 years in jail by a judge on Friday for killing a policeman who was dragged behind a car for more than a mile, in a case that shocked the country.

In August last year, the trio were stealing a quad bike when approached by 28-year-old officer Andrew Harper who chased the group’s car, getting caught in a tow rope and being dragged for 1.4 miles (2.25 km) down a country lane. His fatally injured body became detached from the vehicle and was left in the road.