A police officer was left "screaming in agony" after a van driver who'd been stopped on suspicion of transporting drugs ran over him.
The stop was made on a St Helens residential street after two officers became suspicious of the occupants of a white Transit van, parked nearby to where a holdall containing drugs and cash was found dumped in the road.
After the van drove off, the police car began following it and indicating for it to pull over. When it eventually did, the two officers got out to speak to the two occupants.
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While the officers were either side of the vehicle and said they were going to carry out a drugs search, the driver suddenly slammed on the accelerator and drove off, dragging one of the officers behind him.
CCTV footage played in Liverpool Crown Court showed the officer being hauled along the road a short distance, with the van's wheels also running over him before being driven off. The van was later found abandoned and the two occupants were arrested.
Today Ahmmad Anwar and Umar Anwar appeared in court to be sentenced. Ahmmad Anwar, 27, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, while Umar Anwar, 31, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said Ahmmad was the passenger in the van while Umar was the driver. On the evening of May 17 this year, the van had attracted the attention of two officers, PC Stephanie Catterall and PC Dan Parr. They had been called out to St Helens after a member of the public found a black canvas bag containing a large amount of cannabis, along with cocaine and £3,450 in cash, abandoned in the road.
Ms Daley said: "The officers' attention was drawn to a white van parked nearby, the movements of which were suspicious. The van moved off and the officers followed it, indicating they wanted it to pull over. It parked up on the side of a road, and they approached the vehicle to inform the occupants they were being detained for a drugs search to be carried out.
"While the officers were standing on either side of the vehicle, Umar Anwar put the van into gear and began driving away. PC Parr, who was standing on the passenger side of the van, was dragged along and his legs and pelvis area were run over by the wheels.
"He was in significant pain and screaming. He described the pain as excruciating. People came out of their houses to assist."
Ms Daley said PC Parr had described in his victim impact statement feeling his head banging on the floor and the van being driven over his legs, leaving him fearful he would never walk again. He was taken to hospital where he was operated on for a dislocated right shoulder, and he also suffered a broken wrist. Fortunately his legs were not broken, but he has still not been signed off to return to work since the incident.
PC Catterall also received what were described as "soft tissue" injuries in the incident. Both the officers were in court to see the two men being sentenced.
Jonathan Rogers, defending Ahmmad Anwar, said he had been diagnosed a schizophrenic in 2019 and had performed a "limited function" as a drugs courier.
Cheryl Mottram, defending Umar Anwar, said: "When police approached the side of his vehicle, he simply panicked and feared for his licence. He made a wrong and very bad decision and he is remorseful for what he has done."
The judge, Recorder Ian Harris said: "You were determined to avoid police and being detected and apprehended. The officers were on foot and vulnerable, and it is fortunate you are not facing more serious charges."
Umar Anwar, of Birkdale Road, Rochdale, was jailed for 30 months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, of which he will serve half in prison and the rest on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and three months.
Ahmmad Anwar, of Deeplish Road, Rochdale, was jailed for four years for possession with intent to supply Class A (cocaine) and Class B (cannabis) drugs, of which he will serve half in custody.
Speaking after the case, Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: "These men clearly had no regard for the safety of others, demonstrated by their reckless actions on that night which led to a police officer being seriously injured.
"Our officers put themselves in harm's way every day to protect law abiding members of the public and while they understand the risks their job carries it is totally unacceptable that they should have to tolerate this level of violence.
"We know the overwhelming majority of people continue to appreciate what Merseyside Police does and I want to once again take the opportunity to thank the members of the public who came to the officer's aid immediately after the incident and gave us information which was vital to our investigation.
"My message to those who choose to commit violent acts against police officer is simple: please remember, whatever you think of us, one day you or your families may need our help too."
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