Wellington, May 28 NZPA - The man who ran down and killed police officer Derek Wootton in a Porirua suburb last year has been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of five years.

Members of Mr Wootton's family including his brothers John and David and his fiancee Bronwyn Hewitt read victim impact statements in the High Court at Wellington today.

Mr Wootton was laying road spikes in Titahi Bay last July when Mongrel Mob member Andrew Popo struck him in a stolen car. He was fleeing police at the time. Popo, 33, pleaded guilty last month to the manslaughter of the 53-year-old officer after a murder charge was dropped.

He also admitted driving a stolen car while disqualified when he hit Mr Wootton, and further admitted injuring the car's owner earlier the same night.

A kidnapping charge was dropped after the alleged 16-year-old victim, who was in the car when Popo hit Mr Wootton, indicated he would not repeat his story in court.

Popo had a history of violence and had only been out of jail three months when he killed Mr Wootton, after serving three months for assault.

In 2001, Popo was charged with manslaughter after the high-profile shooting of 16-year-old Black Power prospect Wallace Whatuira on Waitangi Day.

He walked when a key witness refused to testify, despite having given evidence against the three Mongrel Mob men during depositions.

NZPA