Driver jailed after reversing into police officer

David Follows struck a traffic officer with an open car door

A driver who reversed into a police officer who was trying to detain him has been jailed.

David Follows, aged 35 from Walsall, struck a traffic officer with an open car door on a petrol station forecourt in Stone Cross, West Bromwich, on the evening of 23 June.

Wolverhampton Crown Court said Follows pleaded guilty to eight charges, including two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and dangerous driving.

Follows was jailed for a total of 32 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday 20 August, the court said.

The attack happened after the police officer and a colleague had spotted a Ford Puma which was using cloned plates.

Follows had been filling the car up with petrol in Walsall Road when he spotted officers and quickly jumped into the vehicle.

The 35-year-old then struck one officer and grappled with another who tried to grab the car keys.

Follows pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, dangerous driving, failure to provide a specimen, receiving stolen goods, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance, and making off without payment.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "Other police resources had quickly arrived on the scene and with the assistance of a police dog we were able to arrest Follows.

"Although both police officers went to hospital, thankfully their injuries were not serious.

"Follows initially gave a false name but we promptly established his true identity and charged him with a series of offences."