PC Andrew Harper’s cop colleagues hold special memorial service to honour him on 1-year anniversary of senseless death

PC Andrew Harper’s widow revealed she is “filled with pain every time she wakes” in a heartfelt poem read at a memorial one year on from his death.

The officer, 28, was dragged to his death while responding to a quad bike theft on August 15 last year.

PC Harper and his wife Lissie on their wedding day

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Thames Valley Police officers are holding a memorial for fallen PC HarperCredit: PA:Press Association

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Inspector Al Hawkett lays a wreath for PC Harper at Newbury police station todayCredit: PA:Press Association

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Messages written by fellow officers to remember the cop on the first anniversary of his deathCredit: PA:Press Association

His close family, colleagues from Thames Valley Police and the force’s chief constable are attending a private service this morning in Sulhamstead, Berks.

Another service is also being held at the same time at Newbury police station, which will be attended by officers who were first on the scene when PC Harper was brutally killed.

A touching poem written by PC Harper’s wife Lissie, 28, where she described him as “kind and strong without venom or greed” was read at the service by Inspector Al Hawkett.

It read: “The whole world knows your name and the life that was taken.

“Yet it’s me that feels the pain every time I awaken.

“The friendliest giant, you became known to all.

“Many hearts were broken when they heard of your fall.”

Lissie Harper leaving court last month after her husband’s killers were jailed

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The service marks one year since he was brutally killedCredit: PA:Press Association

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Colleagues fall silent to remember the fallen officerCredit: PA:Press Association

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The wreath laid at Newbury today Credit: PA:Press Association

A wreath for the fallen officer was laid and a minute’s silence was held at 11am by fellow cops across the country to honour him.

The flag at Newbury was also flown at half mast in a mark of respect for PC Harper.

Paying tribute, Inspector Hawkett said: “We have all been deeply affected by Andrew’s death, whether we knew him personally or not.

“The senseless loss of a colleague is hard enough, but being newly married, made his death all the more heart-breaking.

“Andrew was a brave young police officer, killed whilst doing the job that he loved.”

He added there would be “no sense of closure” for the officer’s family and friends and said his death would “stay with all of us forever”.

Tomorrow – the actual one-year anniversary of his senseless death – has been left free of commemorations.

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An officer reads heartfelt tributes left to PC HarperCredit: PA:Press Association PC Harper was dragged to his death when he became entangled in a tow rope during a burglary

Thames Valley Police said this is so PC Harper’s family and colleagues “can mark that date however they wish to”.

It comes amid fury that his three teen killers could be out of jail in just eight years.

Albert Bowers, 18, Henry Long, 19, and Jessie Cole, 18, were cleared of murder much to the slain cop’s family’s dismay.

They were instead convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter – meaning the trio have been handed a lesser prison sentence of just 42 years in total.

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Albert Bowers (left) and Jessie Cole (right) were pictured smirking as they arrived at court after being arrested over PC Harper’s killingCredit: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd

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Henry Long, 19, (pictured) was driving the car that dragged PC Harper to his death

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Albert Bowers jokes at court in handcuffsCredit: Hyde News & Pictures Ltd

All three warned they will not be eligible for release until they have served at least two thirds of their sentence – meaning “leader of the gang” Long could be back on the streets in just ten years.

And his accomplices could be out in just eight years if they serve the minimum term of their 13-year sentence.

PC Harper’s devastated wife Lissie, who wed her childhood sweetheart, 28, four weeks before his death, has now joined his mum Debbie Adlam’s calls for tougher jail terms on cop killers.

The Andrew’s Law campaign for a “mandatory” 20-year minimum prison sentence for those convicted of killing police officers was launched last week.

Her cause is being backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents thousands of officers up to the rank of chief inspector.

PC Harper had wed his childhood sweetheart Lissie just weeks before his death

Lissie had bravely faced her husband’s killers in court as she revealed she has “screamed and cried every day” since he was killed.

The couple had been planning their honeymoon together when he was killed while in the line the of duty.

She broke down twice as she read from a heart-wrenching statement, saying: “My husband was brutally killed four weeks after our wedding day.

“Should I speak again of how we were robbed of our future or the plans stolen from us?

“Four weeks was all I had with my husband – four weeks to be called his wife.

“My life often feels bleak, hopeless, irreparable.

“Every aspect of my life since Andrew was taken is bitterly different.”

PC Harper’s mum Debbie Adlam, pictured with her son at his wedding, has launched a campaign calling for tougher sentences for cop killers

PC Harper’s mum Debbie Adlam also read a statement to the court describing how her first-born child has been “ripped” from her.

She added: “My family and I feel broken – can you imagine a loved one dying with such indignity?”

A car driven by Long at “breakneck speed” swung PC Harper “like a pendulum” along a country lane as he responded to a burglary near Reading, Berks.

The masked teens, who have a long list of previous convictions, had tried to steal a £10,000 bike armed with an axe, crowbars and a length of pipe when they were apprehended by PC Harper.

As the cop got out of his unmarked BMW police car, Cole unhitched the bike and made a bid for freedom through the passenger window.

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Long drove up to 60mph to dislodge PC Harper

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Bowers was spotted sniggering with his other defendants during the trial

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Cole jumped through a car window to escape PC Harper, the court heard

But tragically, PC Harper’s ankles became tangled in the two rope attached to the teens’ getaway car as they sped off.

The hero cop was dragged along the country lane at speeds of up to 60mph leaving him with horrific injuries.

His heartless killers smirked and dozed off in court as the gruesome catalogue of wounds was read to the court.

Jurors were told PC Harper would have been knocked unconscious almost immediately and was therefore unable to free himself.

He had been stripped completely naked – including his stab vest being ripped off – except from his socks after being dragged for more than a mile by the thugs.

Horrified colleagues said he was “barely alive” when they came across him but the officer couldn’t be saved and tragically died a short time later at the scene.

The Attorney General has now received a request to review the sentences handed to the teen killers.

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A spokesman said: “The Attorney General’s thoughts are with the family and friends of Pc Andrew Harper at this difficult time.

“I can confirm that we have received a request for the cases of Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

“The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case.”

But tragically, PC Harper’s ankles became tangled in the two rope attached to the teens’ getaway car as they sped off.

PC Harper was probing the theft of a £10,000 quad bike when he became entangled in a tow strap behind a Seat Toledo (pictured) PC Harper had worked four hours over his shift when he answered the call that would lead to his death PC Andrew Harper and his wife Lissie A sea of tributes left for PC Harper at his force’s training centre PC Harper’s mum tells of agony at watching his remorseless teen killers laugh and joke in court