Man sentenced after Wiltshire police officer seriously injured
He's been jailed for more than two years
A man who drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway and then dragged a Wiltshire Police officer along the road has been jailed for more than two years.
Salisbury Crown Court heard how Marlon Kambulu Joao was stopped by two officers in a marked police vehicle after he was spotted travelling in the wrong direction on the A419 in Swindon in the early hours of the 26th April.
The 39 year old from Eynsham in Oxfordshire then got back into his car and attempted to drive away, despite being told not to by the two officers at the scene.
While one of the officers was attempting to remove the keys from the ignition of the vehicle, Joao resisted and the officer was subsequently dragged a short distance, causing her injuries in the process. Her colleague managed to help free her from the fleeing vehicle.
Joao was arrested after a short pursuit.
The injured officer suffered two fractures to her ankle, as well as tendon damage to her wrist, Wiltshire Police says she's stlll recuperating.
Joao pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to Section 20 Grievous Bodily Harm, dangerous driving, and other driving offences.
He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and given a 28 month driving ban.
In an impact statement issued to the court, Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, said:
“My officers and staff work tirelessly to protect the vulnerable, keep communities safe and to prevent and detect crime. They have a right to go about their daily duty without the fear of being assaulted.
"Both officers who were in attendance during this part of the incident have suffered significant trauma due to the actions of the defendant. These police officers acted in the face of unnecessary and aggressive behaviour. The violent and dangerous actions of the defendant will have an incredible impact on the officers."
“Despite this and the protection they are afforded through their personal issue appointments (police uniform and kit), being physically or verbally assaulted should never be tolerated or considered to be acceptable as part of their public duty.”