Terror trip driver who hurt PC jailed

A convicted killer from Kippen who dragged a female police officer more than 60 feet along the road with his car before she was thrown free has been jailed for two years.

Boozed-up businessman Shane Seale, who has a conviction for culpable homicide, was also disqualified for 30 months after he reached speeds of more than 100mph as he sped off from the scene of the crime.

He will then have to resit the extended driving test before he can get back behind the wheel.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that two other officers also had to jump clear to avoid also being struck by the Vauxhall Astra Sport driven by Seale, who runs his own removal business.

Moments earlier, another constable had shattered the car windscreen with his baton in a bid to stop the 47-year-old making good his escape.

The accused then embarked on a 25-mile terror trip, reaching a top speed of 108mph on single carriageway roads in a residential area of Auchterarder and on the way to his home at The Old Nursery, Kippen.

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court that Seale was asked by PC Knox on several occasions to turn off the ignition and hand over his keys and he reluctantly agreed to do that.

He refused to exit the vehicle and as she leaned in to attempt to apply handcuffs, he tried to close the door but was stopped by another officer.

The accused started the ignition and tried to drive away so the officer struck and shattered the windscreen with his baton.

“This effort wasn’t successful and so the accused continued to drive away, dragging Constable Knox along the roadway with him,” explained the depute fiscal.

“PC Knox was dragged by the car about 20 metres along the road before being thrown free.”

Officers eventually forced entry to his home at 5.15am.

The drink/driving procedure was carried out at Falkirk Police Office shortly before 7am and that gave a reading of 116 microgrammes of alcohol, more than five times the legal limit of 22.

Dashcam footage retrieved from his vehicle showed Seale driving in the dark - and despite reduced visibility caused by the damaged windscreen.

The police officer could be heard screaming as Seale sped off after telling police he hadn’t done anything wrong and wanted to be left alone to sleep in his car.

Seale originally faced a total of seven charges but had his guilty pleas accepted to just two.

He admitted that on December 1, 2018, at Elmvale, Auchterarder, he dragged PC Katherine Knox along the ground, to her injury, after culpably and recklessly driving his car while the front door was open.

He also drove dangerously at Elmvale and during a journey between Auchterarder and Kippen.

The charge indicated that he drove off at speed, towards PCs Diane Todd and Mandy Shepherd, causing them to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.

Seale then mounted the kerb and pavement, narrowly avoiding a collision with two parked police cars, and repeatedly drove in excess of the speed limit, all while he was “heavily” under the influence of alcohol.

Solicitor Paul Ralph told the court that Seale apologised for his actions and didn’t intend to injure the police officer.

He runs a removal business and custody would be “catastrophic” - not only to him but to others.

There was a “direct alternative” to prison and he urged a community-based sentence to be imposed.

But Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described the offences as “serious” and had resulted in the officer being dragged along the ground.

“Having regard to the nature of the offence - and your record - in my view custody is inevitable.”

The accused has convictions in his native South Africa for culpable homicide and driving under the influence of drink or drugs, as well as assault and possession of controlled drugs.

He also has a record in this country for possession of controlled drugs, being concerned in their supply, as well as assault and threatening or abusive behaviour.