Man jailed for injuring officers in police chase

Kevin Daniel Derges, 35, of Glenowen Park in Londonderry, admitted two charges of dangerous driving on 17 September 2023

A man has been jailed for injuring seven police officers after ramming two of their vehicles during a high-speed chase.

Kevin Daniel Derges, 35, of Glenowen Park in Londonderry, admitted two charges of dangerous driving on 17 September 2023.

Derges also admitted having cocaine and driving with excess alcohol on the same date.

Londonderry Crown Court was told on Thursday that the defendant had previously been convicted of killing his friend by dangerous driving when he was 17.

The judge was told that police tried to stop a car driven at high speeds by Derges on 17 September last year.

They caught up with him, but he rammed the police vehicle on three occasions, injuring two officers.

The car then crossed the border to the Republic of Ireland, but was then seen a short time later by police on the Groarty Road in Londonderry.

Police followed the vehicle, which was being driven at speed, and at one point the driver turned off the car lights.

Eventually Derges pulled into a narrow road and rammed another police vehicle which injured five officers.

At this point, an officer smashed a window in the car and Derges surrendered to police.

'Very serious offence'

Judge Philip Babington accused Derges of using his car as a weapon.

Describing dangerous driving as "a very serious offence", the judge said the defendant should be well aware of that, considering his record.

Judge Babington said that following his earlier conviction, it was "hard to believe you behaved as you did on this evening".

The judge imposed a prison sentence of 18 months and banned Derges from driving for three years.

He was also fined £500.