'Unhinged' PC crashed into e-bike riders, court told

PC Tim Bradshaw denies causing serious injury by dangerous driving

A police officer has been described in court as "unhinged" after allegedly driving a police car into an e-bike, causing one of the riders to suffer a fractured leg.

It is alleged that PC Tim Bradshaw drove his police car at a bike being ridden by Mason McGarry and Dominic Mizzi in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, on 3 November, 2022.

Jurors at Portsmouth Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Mr McGarry, now 19, sustained a fractured left tibia, which required surgery.

Mr Bradshaw, 55, of Bersted, denies causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Mr McGarry said he had been riding the bike on a pavement, with Mr Mizzi on the back, and stuck his middle finger up as the pair passed a police car.

The court heard that about 10 minutes later, while travelling at about 15-20mph, the bike collided with Mr Bradshaw's police car in Hawthorn Road.

"I had a thump from behind and I hit the floor," said Mr McGarry.

"I must have blacked out for one or two seconds, saw what was going on and managed to get up and hobble away."

Mr McGarry then admitted he was driving the bike without a licence, had previously been banned from driving and had more than 40 previous convictions including assaulting an emergency worker, robbery, theft, burglary and dangerous driving.

Mr Mizzi, now 22, said that the crash had shifted a metal rod in his femur from a previous incident.

"There's a difference between protecting and serving our community and being unhinged," he told the court.

Mr Mizzi said he had previous convictions including weapons offences, theft, public disorder, assaulting emergency workers and drug offences.

The trial continues.