JAILED: Driver seriously injured Pc while escaping arrest for attacking his partner

A driver who seriously injured a police officer while escaping arrest has been jailed for eight years.

Pc Julie Thomas had chased Clover Johnson as he ran to his car outside Walsall bus station after assaulting his partner.

The 52-year-old climbed into the driver’s seat but the officer stopped him closing the door and got into the car herself, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

A struggle developed and the silver Renault Megane suddenly careered across the road with Pc Thomas half out of the vehicle.

Less than 100ft later, the open driver’s door to which she was clinging smashed into a traffic light pole, crushing the officer before she was flung into the air by the impact, said Miss Sally Cairns, prosecuting.

Johnson sped away, leaving the victim lying in a crumpled heap in Hatherton Street, Walsall, around 9am on September 6.

She had three fractures of the pelvis, five broken ribs, a punctured lung and a laceration to her head as well as bruising over her body and face.

Pc Harris spent two weeks under treatment in hospital and is still suffering the after effects of her injuries.

Bus station

The officer had been on duty in the bus station when the No 69 service arrived and passengers told her how a woman had sought sanctuary on the bus after being assaulted in Green Lane.

Johnson and his partner had been involved in a domestic dispute and the bus driver had stopped to let her on board to escape him, the court heard.

He had followed in his car and was identified to the officer when he walked into the bus station after parking outside.

She went to talk to him but he pushed her to the ground and ran off, continued Miss Cairns who added: “He became increasingly aggressive and smelt of alcohol.”

Caught in a cupboard

The silver Megane was found abandoned soon afterwards with the blood of the officer on the driver’s door frame and a cap with his DNA inside.

He was found hiding in a cupboard at a Walsall address three days later.

Mr Sanjit Sandhu, defending, said Johnson acted recklessly while trying to get away but had not intended to injure the officer.

The defendant from Hilary Place, Pleck, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to resist arrest and assaulting his partner.

Recorder Stephen Thomas told him: “The officer was injured in the execution of her duties trying to protect the public from people like you.”

I want it to be a bad dream - Pc

“I want it to be a bad dream but it is reality and I have to live with it.”

These are the words of the police officer left seriously injured in the road after trying to stop a suspect escaping.

Pc Julie Thomas said: “The incident changed my life and impacted on my future in many ways.

“I became a police officer accepting there would be a limited level of violence and abuse but I never, ever envisaged anything like this.

"I was an extremely active independent gym-loving individual but I woke up in hospital unable to move.”

She described the drips and other medical paraphernalia surrounding her and continued: “I had a particularly sharp pain in my side and I asked myself: ‘What have I done to deserve this?’

“I was hurting all over and confused but seeing members of my family at my bedside made me realise it was really serious.

"For the first five days I had to lie flat on my back in bed.”

She has been receiving counselling to help her come to terms with what happened.

She is due to retire from the West Midlands force in four years time and revealed: “I am hoping and praying I will be able to return to full operational duties so I can leave knowing that I made a difference up to the end.”

Pc Thomas, who still walks with a limp six months after the incident, gave details of her life since she was hurled from a car in Walsall while trying to prevent 52-year-old Clover Johnson from escaping.

She said his actions had destroyed her independence and dignity in ‘one go’ and explained: “Every aspect of my life has been affected.

"When I leave the house I feel vulnerable and never thought that before. I am not sure I could ever handle a confrontational situation again.”