Westminster Magistrates Court (Rick Findler/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)A Metropolitan Police officer is accused of breaking a man’s back by ramming him with his police car during an attempted drugs arrest, a court has heard.
Detective Sergeant Michael Harding, 50, has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm over the incident in May 2018.
It is said he drove into Dean Francis as he got out of a taxi, allegedly sending him flying through the air and falling 15ft into a basement.
DS Harding appeared via videolink at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday to deny both charges.
District Judge Michael Snow sent the case to Southwark crown court for a trial, with a preliminary hearing on January 10.
Prosecutor Imogen Nelson said the incident happened in Lower Grosvenor Place, Belgravia, on May 15, 2018, when officers - including Harding - from the Met’s Operation Trident were investigating drugs offences.
It is said Harding was at the wheel of a BMW which “collided with Mr Francis, sending him airborne and over the railings into the basement of the adjacent building”.
The court heard Mr Francis fell 15ft into the basement, and is said to have suffered injuries including four fractured vertebrae and a punctured lung.
“The Crown’s case is rather than trying to avoid Mr Francis, DS Harding drove into him”, said Ms Nelson.
Harding, who lives in New Waltham in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.
Charges were brought following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
