driver in vicious attack on cop
OFFICER MAY HAVE TO QUIT AFTER BRUTAL ASSAULT FROM SPEEDING THUG
A DRIVER raced through suburban streets before attacking a police officer so badly he is expected to have to leave the force, a court heard.
Kevin Brown, 46, left the male officer temporarily blind in one eye following the ‘vicious’ attack in Chorlton.
Brown was first spotted by the officer on patrol in an unmarked car while he was driving on the Princess Parkway.
The officer began to follow him after becoming suspicious that his car may have had false number plates, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Shortly after, the officer activated the sirens and ordered Brown to pull over.
But instead Brown lead the officer on a high-speed chase through the streets of Chorlton on a busy Thursday morning, on February 22 last year.
During the chase Brown mounted the pavement several times, with pedestrians having to take evasive action.
“Pedestrians were jumping out of the way,” prosecutor Amanda Johnson said.
He went through red lights and went ‘head to head’ with oncoming traffic, the court heard.
In his black Ford Fiesta, Brown reached speeds of up to 70mph in 30mph zone, and reached similar speeds in a 20mph zone near a school.
On two occasions, the police car blocked Brown in, after he had turned down a dead end.
Undeterred, Brown drove on the pavement or over people’s front gardens to escape.
Brown also rammed into the police car on two occasions. He was boxed after turning onto Shanklin Close, a cul-desac. With nowhere else to go, Brown got out of the car and ran. Following closely behind, the officer fired his Taser at Brown, but it hit his jacket and had no effect. Brown then ‘rained punches’ onto the officer’s face, causing him to fall to the ground. At that time he couldn’t see out of one eye due to his injuries, but he got up soon after and continued the pursuit. Two other officers had arrived as back-up. Brown ran into them and jumped onto the police car’s windscreen, causing it to crack.
They got out and tried to subdue Brown by hitting him to the legs with their batons, but that didn’t work.
The injured officer was then able to fire his Taser at Brown again.
Brown fell to the ground but he continued to be violent. He was Tasered a second time, and officers were then able to handcuff and arrest him.
The officer, who has served for 22 years, suffered a serious eye injury which required surgery. His vision improved but despite the operation, he continues to suffer double vision.
A statement read to the court said that he has been forced to apply for medical retirement due to the injury, and that he has also had to give up his driving licence.
After being arrested, Brown, who has 33 previous convictions including for dangerous driving and violent offences, told officers that police ‘had a problem with him’ because of a previous incident.
Nicholas Clarke, defending, said that before being chased by the police, Brown had been on the way to the hospital to visit his grandmother who was unwell.
He said that Brown had been arrested the previous month for an unrelated incident, in which police took no further action.
“Hence his decision to drive in this way,” Mr Clarke said.
Judge Patrick Field QC sentenced Brown to five years and four months in prison.
Brown, of Fern Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest, and dangerous driving.
He was also banned from driving for four years and eight months.
Pedestrians were jumping out of the way Prosecutor Amanda Johnson