by Keith Hunt

A thug who deliberately drove his car at an off-duty community police officer on a petrol station forecourt has been jailed for 15 months.

Trevor Knowler suffered a broken ankle in the incident at an Esso garage in Boxley Road, Maidstone, on August 8 last year.

Shortly before reversing at the victim, Ricky Sutton told him: “I am going to f------ run you down.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard the violence came after Sutton, 23, had rowed with his girlfriend Maisey Midgley-Travers.

The couple had their baby son in the car when they pulled onto the forecourt in the Volkswagen Golf.

Jane Scotchmer, prosecuting, said Sutton left Miss Midgley-Travers and their child locked in the car while he put petrol in the car.

“There was discord and tension between them,” said Miss Scotchmer. “She called out of the window for assistance and wanted the police.”

Another driver, Lucy Drummond, went over and told her to sit in her car. She did so and Sutton drove off with his son.

He then returned and boxed in Miss Drummond’s car and shouted at her and his girlfriend.

PCSO Knowler was also at the garage and went over to Sutton and told him to drive off. As Mr Knowler walked away, he heard Sutton threaten to run him down.

Sutton then reversed his car at the victim, striking his legs. “The car followed through and a wheel went over his right foot,” said the prosecutor.

Sutton drove off and was not arrested until the next morning. He said he fled because “big geezers” were after him and he feared he had killed the officer.
Mr Knowler was taken to hospital and treated for a fractured ankle.

Sutton, of Woolwich, south east London, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Judge Jeremy Carey said it was plainly a highly charged emotional situation.

“The end result was you lost control of yourself and behaved in a way which has brought consequences to wholly innocent third parties, in particular Mr Knowler,” he said.
“I judge you used the car as a weapon. You used a car which could have killed him.”
Sutton was also banned from driving for a year.