Yahoo News Man jailed for ramming police car after night of violent disorder in Seaham
Two men have admitted taking part in an evening of violent disorder in which officers were injured after a police car was rammed and set alight.
Darren Hargrave and Harley Coates were among a group of people attending a large gathering on the fields off Malvern Crescent in Seaham in County Durham on the evening of April 27 this year.
Officers were patrolling the area when the car containing two officers was rammed by a Nissan Juke being driven by Hargrave. The officers suffered whiplash.
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Hargrave then drove off at speed, crashing head on with a second police car, resulting in the three officers having to leave their vehicle. Thankfully, no-one was seriously hurt.
The 27-year-old took the Juke to a grassy area nearby where Coates was able to light pieces of paper in the car to set it alight after he smashed the windscreen.
Hargrave, of Sunderland, admitted violent disorder and driving whilst disqualified and earlier this month was sentenced at Durham Crown Court to two years and three months in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.
Coates, 18, of Seaham, also admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months.
Detective Constable Alex Bilby, of Durham Constabulary, said: "We will not tolerate criminality and violent disorder in our communities.
"Colleagues were injured while carrying out their duties of protecting the public. Thankfully, no-one was seriously injured but this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.
"I would like to thank those who have assisted us with our investigation. If you have any information that could assist our continuing enquiries into this incident, please contact us on 101, or use the live chat function on our website."
