A man serving a prison sentence of more than seven years has been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds.

Darren Hector, 43, of Sealy Way, Apsley, was jailed in August last year after he attacked two police officers following a high-speed pursuit.

Hector was chased in his BMW from Watford to Hemel Hempstead, where he ended up crashing on the A41.

He then launched an attack on two officers, leaving one male officer with a fractured cheekbone, while he attacked the officer's female colleague by hitting her head against the tarmac repeatedly while choking her.

In court, Hector pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm (GBH) without intent, actual Bodily Harm (ABH), possession with intent to supply class A drugs (two counts – cocaine and crack), possession of a class B drug (cannabis resin), dangerous driving, and possession of criminal property, and was jailed for seven years and three months.

Now following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, Hector has been told he must repay nearly £42,000.

Detective Constable Joel Gill, of the Hemel Hempstead local crime unit, said: "Darren Hector has already had assets of more than £6,000 seized and now following financial investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act, he has been ordered to repay £41,932.38.

Darren Hector,43, of Apsley. Credit: Herts Police

Darren Hector, 43, of Apsley. Credit: Herts Police

"This highlights that crime certainly does not pay, this example just shows not only will criminals serve time in prison, but also proceeds of crime are removed.

"We rely on members of the public to give us vital bits of information to help us protect our community from these kinds of criminals.

"Any information you can provide, no matter how small it may seem, could help us to protect the region."