Man jailed for 20 years for attempted murder in Clacton
Two people were seriously injured when they were hit by a car last year
Last updated 21st Apr 2021
A man who drove a car at four people in Clacton has been jailed for attempted murder.
38-year-old Brett Hart, of Elmden Court, was sentenced yesterday (19 April) after being found guilty of the offence relating to one person.
He was also convicted of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to two further victims and driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance.
Hart was jailed for 20 years for attempted murder and given five-year sentences for each of the other offences, which will run concurrently.
Rebecca Grant, his co-defendent and partner, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice.
It follows an incident on 25 August 2020 where police were called to Hart's house following reports of several people, armed with baseball bats, trying to get inside and attack him.
On arrival, officers found a teenage girl injured on the ground and three others, another teenage girl and two men, also injured.
The court heard Hart drove towards one of the teenagers as she was leaving the area, clipping her legs causing her to spin round and fall to the ground.
He then hit one of the men, causing him to roll over the bonnet, and struck the second female on the back of her legs.
As she collapsed Hart reversed over her, trapping her under the vehicle and also hitting the second man who had gone to her aid.
Hart was reportedly heard laughing as he was driving.
He escaped the scene and was later arrested and had his car seized for forensic examination, before being found guilty and sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 19 April.
Detective Constable Darren Buckingham, who led the investigation, said:
"This was a horrific, deliberate attempt by Hart to seriously hurt four people, and will have a lasting impact on the victims, both mentally and physically. He had no regard for his victims and has been punished for his actions.
"Hart was not someone who needed to be protected, but needed to be brought to justice and thankfully this is the case."