A Carlisle man had been jailed today after driving at a police officer.
Jack Mitchell, 36, of Sunnymeade, was sentenced to over two years and 10 months for driving a motor vehicle dangerously, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle when required by a constable
The court heard that while police officers were conducting sperate enquiries they saw a man approach a black vehicle and handed something to the driver, who was identified as Mitchell.
A PC approached the vehicle and instructed the vehicle to stop.
The officer was wearing plain clothes but had their harness with a bodycam, radios and lanyard with warrant card visible.
Mitchell reversed away from the officer on to the main road.
An officer 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 vehicle’s registration as it drove off.
Officers attended the address registered with the vehicle, where it had been driven back to and the driver was arrested.
Mitchell’s vehicle was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act due to a smell of cannabis within the vehicle, no drugs were found but a large metal bar was located between the driver’s 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, of 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.”
