Court hears driver ran officer down

Teenage driver Scott Williams mowed down a Mid Wales police officer, a court heard.

The 18-year-old drove straight at Sergeant Colin Luke as the officer stood in the road to try and stop him.

Williams, of Lon Derw, Newtown, was convicted of dangerous driving at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

An alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer by furious driving was dropped.

Jurors heard Sergeant Luke tried to take evasive action as Williams drove towards him, but the policeman was hit in the legs and thrown on to the bonnet.

Eventually he was thrown to the ground as the car sped away.

Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said Sergeant Luke and a colleague were on foot patrol on January 18 and had spoken to Williams, a disqualified driver, and his friend twice.

On the first occasion they were asked where they were going and on the second Williams was asked to empty his pockets.

He produced a wallet and a set of keys for a Rover car, but said they were for an old car he used to have. He told the officers he had no access to a car that night.

However, the court heard the officers later saw Williams approach a parked red Rover and get in the driving seat.

It was then that Sergeant Luke came out into the road and signalled for the car to stop.

Mr Mihangel said: “The vehicle was driven directly at him.”

Sergeant Luke suffered minor injuries.

The car was abandoned a short time later. Williams fled, but left his mobile phone in the vehicle.

A for sale sign in the car gave a telephone number to contact. When officers rang the number, it went through to Williams’s seized phone.

Mr Myles Wilson, for Williams, said the issue was identification.

Williams had denied driving the car, saying a friend must have been behind the wheel.

Williams admitted driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Sentencing was adjourned for the completion of reports and Williams was released on bail.

Mr Recorder Charles Fox warned Williams that all sentencing options, including a custodial sentence, remained open.

By Suzanne Roberts