Colwyn Bay - Man jailed for ramming police car

Page last updated at 15:10 GMT, Wednesday, 1 April 2009 16:10 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Man jailed for ramming police car

A 41-year-old man who rammed a police vehicle seven times as he tried to escape officers after attacking his partner, has been jailed. Paul Read from Colwyn Bay, Conwy, was called a "callous bully" by a judge at Caernarfon Crown Court for assaulting Pamela O'Hare in the street. The court heard Read used his BMW as a weapon after he was cornered by police. He pleaded guilty to charges including causing actual bodily harm to two police officers and common assault. Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said that after Read had assaulted his partner, making her fall to the ground, he stood on her hair. He then got into her BMW and began ramming the police vehicle to escape.  It's quite clear you caused a significant amount of trauma to both police officers  Judge Merfyn Hughes QC One of the officers was off duty for four weeks because of the injuries and trauma suffered in the incident, the court heard. A prosecutor said Read only stopped ramming the police vehicle when the radiator of his BMW car exploded in the impacts. A defence advocate said Read had since apologised to the officers. He had himself sustained a serious injury to his ankle, the court was told. Judge Hughes told him: "It's quite clear you caused a significant amount of trauma to both police officers. "Your conduct can be described as deliberate, premeditated and violent driving, using your car as a weapon." Read received concurrent prison sentences of two-and-a-half years for causing actual bodily harm to the police officers, 12 months for aggravated vehicle taking and two consecutive terms of three months for the assault on Ms O'Hare and drink driving. He also pleaded guilty to having no licence or insurance and was banned from driving for three years. He must also take a re-test.