Man sentenced after injuring officer during arrest attempt

A man who injured a Cheltenham police officer during an arrest attempt has been sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court.

Francis McCarthy, aged 18 and of Wapsey Wood Caravan Park, Gerrards Cross, had tried to ram PC Baker into a car when he drove off during the incident last October.

He appeared in court after admitting dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker and failing to provide a specimen.

The court heard that PC Baker had been flagged down by a member of the public on 22 October last year.

They told him that they had seen McCarthy driving dangerously in a Vauxhall Astra before pulling up close to St Gregory’s Nursery in St James Square, Cheltenham,

PC Baker had approached McCarthy, who appeared to be drunk, and asked him to sit in a police vehicle to take a breath test.

Instead, McCarthy ignored the request and got back behind the wheel of the Astra. PC Baker attempted to take the keys, but was hit on the head by McCarthy, before trying to accelerate away.

He managed to reverse with PC Baker still in the car door frame, before driving at Volkswagen Touran parked nearby. PC Baker was able to let go and avoid being crushed between the two vehicles.

However, PC Baker did land on the back of a parked vehicle with some force, and although it didn't cause any serious physical injuries other than soft tissue damage, he has been left with the ongoing mental impact.

The defendant then drove towards the nursery, narrowly avoiding pedestrians in the area.

As McCarthy drove off in the direction of Lower High Street, PC Baker was able to get up and run after the car, smashing the driver’s window before it accelerated away.

The Astra was driven into Swindon Street where its path was blocked by a van. McCarthy mounted the pavement in attempt to get around it, before coming to a stop after colliding with a telegraph pole and bollards.

Officers were able to arrest him at the point, when he told them that he had drunk a bottle of whisky.

McCarthy was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for 16 months. He was also disqualified from driving for three years, six months and ordered to pay PC Baker £2,500 in compensation.