A have-a-go hero who was hit by a getaway car after he confronted burglars in his home has called for a change in the law after no one was prosecuted over causing his injuries.

After hearing noises in his home in Beaconsfield Road, Epping, Dan Mankelow, 34, confronted two intruders in the kitchen and chased them out.

He was then hit by a car and left for dead, but discovered by wife and two daughters and taken to hospital.

He spent six weeks in hospital being treated for a broken tibular and fibular in his right leg, which required screws and and metal rod inserted in his leg.

In May 2012, Hayley Balkwill, 23, of Elmcroft Avenue in Wanstead, Waseem Akhtar, 21, of High Street North in Manor Park, and Bruno Motas, 23, and Keiron Francis, 27, both of no fixed abode were convicted of burglary, but none of them received a sentence of more than two-and-a-half years.

But despite DNA evidence and witness statements, charges over the hit and run on Mr Mankelow were dropped and no one was prosecuted.

He said: “The first policeman said that they would nail them and it filled me with joy. But, I got a call a few days later saying that there is nothing they can do.

“I want the Crown Prosecution Service to take a realistic look at the facts.

“Four people came to my house and attempted to burgle me, ran me down and left me for dead.

“Then four people were arrested a few miles from the scene in the car that ran me down. How is this not joint enterprise?”

Since the burglars were never convicted of running their victim over, compensation could not be recouped from them.

The family has now been awarded a payout from the Motor Insurers' Bureau, but Mr Mankelow says the money should have come from those convicted over the raid.

“I would like to see a change in the law which would force criminals to pay back this money on future earning to make them truly accountable for their actions,” he added.

Liz Dux, of Slater & Gordon, who is representing Mr Mankelow, said: “Mr Mankelow suffered horrific injuries whilst trying to protect his family and property from a gang of intruders.

“It is wrong that those who committed such an act of brutality will not be forced to realise the serious repercussions of their actions or to suffer themselves in any way financially for the harm they have caused.

“His family has been all severely affected and they can no longer live in their own home in peace. The insurance industry should take a tougher line on individuals who commit such acts.”