THREE Kent police officers have been commended by their Met police colleagues.

PCs Darren Everitt, James Harness and Colin Richards were praised for the way they dealt with an incident, in August, last year, when two youth attacked a stranger in the early hours of the morning.

After refusing to hand over money to the duo, the victim was beaten and throttled.

But PC Richards, who was off duty at the time, and his two colleagues, who were on duty, were driving past in separate cars and immediately stopped.

PCs Richards and Harness chased the two youths on foot followed by PC Everitt in a car.

When PC Everitt spotted the thugs, he jumped out of his car, grabbed one but was kicked in the face by the second youth, who was arrested by PC Harness. As PC Everitt struggled with the first youth, he was punched. He and PC Richards were also head butted.

Once the thugs were in the car, PC Everitt noticed the first youth trying to dispose of cannabis and cocaine.

One of the duo was convicted on two charges of assault and sentenced to two concurrent spells of six month's youth detention.