A 20-year-old man appearing in court has denied “any involvement in the horrific murder” of a police officer who died after he was dragged under the wheels of a car. 

Newlywed PC Andrew Harper was responding to reports of a burglary in the Berkshire village of Bradfield, Southend, at 11.30pm on August 15, when he was killed.

The 28-year-old constable died from multiple injuries close to the nearby village of Sulhamstead after being dragged under a vehicle and possibly hit by a police car.

Jed Foster was charged with his murder and appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. He is also charged with the theft of a quad bike from Peter Wallis.

Foster stood in the dock wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit in front of a packed public gallery to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a hearing which lasted around three minutes.

Foster, of Pingewood, in Burghfield, near Reading was not asked to enter pleas to the charges and District Judge Davinder Lachhar remanded him in custody until Wednesday, when he will appear at Reading Crown Court.

His lawyer, Rob Jacques said: “On behalf of him and his family I want to say three things. He denies any involvement in the horrific murder of PC Harper.

“We urge the police to follow all lines of enquiry and for the public to come forward and co-operate.”

Foster was handcuffed before he left the dock, while there was a heavy police presence at court.

Thames Valley Police arrested 10 men and boys – the youngest aged 13 – on the site of a nearby caravan park within an hour of the incident.

The nine remaining suspects were released on bail until Friday September 13.