Land Rover driver rams into police car to seriously injure officer before fleeing – as he is sent to jail
This is the dramatic moment a reckless Land Rover driver aggressively rammed into a police car following him before fleeing the scene.
Gerard McDonagh, 21, was jailed for 10 months after crashing into the police vehicle, seriously injuring an officer.
McDonagh had been followed in his Land Rover Freelander by PC James Yeoman after the officer noticed the vehicle had false number plates.
The PC followed the car, which had activated ANPR cameras, from the M1 before reaching Markfield in Leicestershire.
Video footage taken from the police car shows McDonagh turning down a narrow country lane and reaching speeds of almost 60km/h before suddenly braking in November 2022.
A reckless driver rammed his Land Rover into a police car before fleeing the scene
Gerard McDonagh, 21, was jailed for ten months after crashing into the police vehicle
PC Yeoman is shown slowing to a stop before McDonagh begins to rapidly reverse, crashing into the front of the police car and deploying the airbags.
He fled the scene after causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, leaving the officer with serious leg, back, neck and arm injuries.
McDonagh was later arrested and charged with dangerous driving, criminal damage and assault on an emergency worker.
McDonagh appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday and was also banned from driving for two years and five months after pleading guilty to the charges.
PC Yeoman was ‘seriously injured’ by the incident, which happened after he followed McDonagh who was driving a car with fake number plates
The car was followed by officers from the M1 before it drove onto a country road near Markfield, Leicestershire, in November 2022.
Officer Joe Mulvany was the investigating officer. He said: ‘McDonagh has shown no remorse for his actions and even during the investigation he failed to answer bail and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
‘As a result, the legal process has unfortunately been delayed. We are pleased that he has now admitted his crimes and has been convicted.
Sergeant Jackson added: ‘We hope this outcome goes some way to reassuring PC Yeoman that the defendant has been brought to justice and now faces a prison sentence for his actions.’
An investigation remains ongoing into a 22-year-old woman who was also arrested during the incident for assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.
