Driver who rammed police car and was caught with fake gun and drugs is jailed
A driver who rammed a police car and was then caught with a fake gun and drugs has been jailed.
Mark Nye, 36, smashed into a patrol vehicle and broke an officer's arm - leaving him permanently injured - when authorities pulled him over in March 2020.
While being investigated on bail for this incident, Nye was stopped again around a month later for breaking COVID restrictions and found with an imitation firearm and small bags of cocaine.
Dashcam footage of the incident showed his black Ford 4x4 hurtling towards an oncoming police vehicle in a bid to get away from another officer who had been questioning him.
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At Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday, Nye was jailed for a year after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of an imitation firearm in a public place and possession of class A drugs.
Nye's erratic driving began when officers stopped him on a traffic stop in Yeoman Drive in Staines-on-Thames, Surrey, on 10 March, 2020, at around 7.10pm.
A clip showed Nye mount the pavement of the residential road to try and get around the patrol car, before trying to ram past as an officer chased after him.
After fleeing on foot and getting into another getaway car, Nye was finally arrested before being caught breaking lockdown on 16 April, 2020.
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Since the smash, the officer had been left with a permanent disability to his wrist, police said.
At the sentencing hearing, Nye was also disqualified from driving for three-and-a-half years once he's released from prison.
Following sentencing, detective constable Phil Haffenden said: "Since the incident, the officer involved has suffered from chronic pain in his hand and left with a permanent disability.
"Nye had no consideration for the safety of the officers involved or members of the public that could have been put in danger by his dangerous driving. I am pleased that Nye will now spend time in prison for his crime."