A man had been jailed today (Jan 30) after driving at and failing to stop for a police officer.
Jack Mitchell, 36, of Sunnymeade, Carlisle was sentenced to over two years ten months for the following offences:
- Driving a motor vehicle dangerously
- Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place
- Failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle when required by a constable
The court heard that whilst officers conducting sperate enquiries they seen a man approach a black vehicle and handed something to the driver identified as Mitchell.
A PC approached the vehicle and instructed the vehicles to stop. The officer was wearing plain clothes but had their harness with a bodycam, radios and lanyard with warrant card visible.
Mitchell failed to stop the vehicle reversing away from the officer onto the main road, the officers stood in front of the vehicle to prevent it moving forward. Mitchell honked his horn and revved the engine before accelerating the vehicle at the officer knocking them out the way before speeding off.
The officer noted the vehicles registration as it drove off.
Officers attended the address registered with the vehicle, where it had returned and the driver was arrested.
Mitchells vehicle was searched under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act due to a smell of Cannabis within the vehicle, nothing was located but a large metal bar was found between the drivers seat and door.
The vehicle also had a tyre tread below the legal limit contributing to dangerous driving.
Speaking on the case PC Kieran Salkeld from Cumberland CID said “Mitchell drove at an officer who although was in plain clothes was visibly wearing items that would identify them as a police officer.
“Mitchell claimed he didn’t intentionally drive at the officer and that he didn’t realise they were an officer, and described his own driving as ‘idiotic’
“Using a vehicle to drive at someone is extremely dangerous, and fortunately the officer wasn’t seriously injured or worse killed during the incident.”