A man from Havant who rammed a police car whilst driving a stolen car, injuring two police officers, has today been jailed for two-and-a-half years

Simon Parker, aged 31, pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on 1 April 2022 to nine offences including dangerous driving, two counts of assaulting emergency workers, criminal damage, taking a conveyance without authority, driving whilst disqualified and three drug offences.

He was spotted by the police driving a stolen Mini Cooper during the early hours of 28 January 2022, and an attempt was made to stop him at a petrol station in Rowlands Castle.

Parker deliberately reversed the Mini into the police car to avoid arrest, causing a substantial amount of damage and narrowly avoiding trapping one police officer’s foot in the car door.

Parker then drove dangerously whilst being pursued by the police, driving the wrong way around a roundabout, driving on the wrong side of the road and mounting the pavement.

He eventually came to a stop, but again reversed into the police car at speed, causing injury to the officers, in an attempt to stop the police from following him.

When arrested, Parker was also found to be in possession of amphetamine, cannabis and Tramadol.

Alison Saunders, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor said, “It is extremely lucky that the police officers in this case were not more seriously injured, or that a member of the public was not hurt, given the extent of the dangerous way Simon Parker was driving in order to avoid arrest.

“Putting police officers’ lives at risk with this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and the CPS will make sure that offenders are brought to justice.”

In addition to his sentence to prison, Simon Parker was disqualified from driving for 39 months and will have to take an extended re-test.

Simon Parker admitted other offences that were taken into consideration at sentence, including:

Taking a vehicle without consent on 19 November 2021, in Hampshire.

Taking a vehicle without consent on 20 November 2021, in Sussex.

Handling stolen registration plates on 30 November 2021, in Hampshire.

Making off without payment for fuel on 16 January 2022, in Sussex.

Handling stolen registration plates on 16 January 2022, in Sussex.

Making off without payment for fuel on three occasions on 18, 19 and 20 January 2022, in Hampshire.

Handling stolen registration plates on 20 January 2022, in Hampshire.

Making off without payment for fuel on 22 January 2022, in Sussex.

Two counts of handling stolen registration plates on 22 and 23 January 2022, in Sussex.

Theft on 23 January 2022, SussexMaking off without payment for fuel on 25 January 2022, in Hampshire.

Handling stolen registration plates on 25 January 2022, HampshireShoplifting on 25 January 2022, in Hampshire.

Making off without payment for fuel, 27 January, Sussex.