Swindon man who reversed into police officer is jailed
The officer said he had never felt more scared
A Swindon man who almost ran over a police officer by reversing into him has been sent to jail for five months.
David Watkins-Rudman, 37, of Beech Avenue, reversed at speed after spotting a police officer at Apple Green Petrol Station on Great Western Way on October 7.
Wiltshire Police say Watkins-Rudman, who was driving a silver Audi TT, nearly ran over the officer who said the incident left him feeling scared.
He then drove off and was located sleeping in his car on Christmas Day. He was charged with driving whilst disqualified and assaulting an emergency worker.
He appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on December 28, and pleaded guilty to both offences.
He’s been sentenced to 21 weeks in prison, disqualified from driving for three years and 10 months, and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 surcharge.
In a victim impact statement, the police officer involved said: "The incident caused me to hold my breath from the panic that came over me, thinking that I couldn’t believe that this person was deliberately trying to hit me with the car, in a bid to get away.
I’ve never had anyone drive at me before. I honestly thought that I was going to get hit by the car ... I honestly believe that he was trying to physically run me over.
"I have been a police officer for 5 and a half years and deal with all kinds of incidents within my career and I have never felt scared before as I did at the moment that I saw the car reverse and manoeuvre in my direction with speed."
PC Matthew Coates, who investigated the case said: “Our officers are out on patrol on the roads of Wiltshire day and night to keep people safe and apprehend drivers who pose a risk to other road users.
“It is completely unacceptable when police officers are assaulted while carrying out these public duties, and I am pleased to see the courts acknowledging this and ensuring these offenders are taken off our streets.”