A fleeing driver who was being pursued by a police motorcyclist suddenly stopped abruptly and reversed the vehicle at speed straight towards the shocked officer.
Euan Silvester used the SUV as a “highly dangerous weapon” but the policeman luckily spotted what he was doing and hurriedly managed to dodge in between two parked cars. The BMW 4×4 still hit him and knocked him off his motorcycle, causing injuries. The driver later burned the vehicle in a field in a doomed bid to wriggle out of trouble, Hull Crown Court heard.
Silvester, 20, of Lambert Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on March 21.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that, at about 1.47pm, police were alerted to four young males in a BMW X3 4×4 SUV in Princes Avenue, west Hull. The speed of the vehicle increased and the officer followed it on his motorcycle towards Chanterlands Avenue.
The BMW, driven by Silvester, suddenly reversed at speed towards the police motorcyclist, who realised what was happening and managed to get in between two parked cars. There was still a collision, however, and the rider came off, suffering injuries.
“It was a deliberate decision to break the rules of the road and evade a police officer,” said Mr O’Connor. Silvester made off at speed in the BMW and fled from the scene. The car was set alight on Dane Park playing fields, on the Orchard Park estate, at 1am. Silvester was wearing a face covering as a disguise at the time.
He was arrested at his home and taken into custody. He had been banned from driving for 18 months on September 25 last year.
During police interview, Silvester claimed that he agreed to drive the others in the vehicle for payment. He claimed that he had been threatened and that he was not aware of the presence of the policeman. He admitted that he panicked and that he was there when the vehicle was burned in a field.
The police officer later said that he found the idea that someone would want to reverse a vehicle into him “scary”. He could have been seriously injured or killed.
Silvester had convictions for 12 previous offences, including three for assaulting an emergency worker and others for driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
David Godfrey, mitigating, said that Silvester pleaded guilty to the offences. “He has not chanced his arm,” said Mr Godfrey. “He has not had a trial.
“Fortunately, the injury to the officer was fairly insignificant. It could have been a lot worse but it wasn’t. He has got to sharpen himself up and sort himself out and have a good life.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Silvester that the incident was “shocking” and he obviously realised at the time that he was not going to be able to get away from the police. He “stopped very suddenly” and carried out a “determined” reversing manoeuvre at speed to hit the police motorcycle being ridden by the officer.
Join our WhatsApp Community for the latest crime news
“He anticipated what happened and he managed to get in between two parked cars,” said Judge Thackray. “There was still a collision. You were driving while disqualified and without insurance.
“It’s only his quick thinking that prevented more serious injuries here. You obviously knew that you were in a lot of trouble.” Silvester used the vehicle as a “highly dangerous weapon” by reversing into it at speed towards the police motorcyclist.
“You were given a golden opportunity back in 2024 for driving offences and you went on to commit these offences,” said Judge Thackray. “I don’t accept that your risk can be managed in the community because you have committed these offences during the currency of a community order and these are serious offences with a level of determination.
“Ultimately, only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Silvester was sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years. He was banned from driving for three years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.