A driver has been jailed after injuring an officer when he rammed three police vehicles in an attempt to escape a routine traffic stop.

The driver was stopped by police at the traffic lights on Hook Rise North in Tolworth at around 11pm on May 21, 2021.

Nicholas Overton, 36, of Windrush Valley Road in Witley failed to stop for the officers and began ramming the three police cars in an attempt to escape.

He reversed into a police car and then drove forward into another, injuring an officer.

Police said that Overton showed a “complete disregard for the safety of the public”.

Overton pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker but admitted to failure to stop and driving over the specified drug limit.

He was found guilty and was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, October 18.

He was sentenced to:

  • Dangerous driving – 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months
  • Disqualified from driving for 24 months until he has passed an extended test
  • Assault of an emergency worker – six months’ imprisonment to run concurrent, suspended for 24 months
  • 150 hours of unpaid work
  • Rehabilitation activity requirement – 19 sessions of Thinking Skills programme.

Investigating Officer Sergeant Ben Grilli, said: "What should have been a routine traffic stop quickly escalated. Overton showed complete disregard for the safety of the public and ended up seriously injuring an officer from our team.

"Speeding and driving dangerously are two of the fatal five offences - those that cause the majority of deaths on UK roads. As a Force, we are committed to robustly tackling these offences and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions."

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: “A dangerous driver who rammed three police cars in an attempt to escape capture has been banned from driving when he appeared in court on Tuesday (18 October).

“After being flagged to pull over by officers, Nicholas Overton, 36, of Windrush Valley Road, Witley, Oxfordshire failed to stop which led to him trying to ram his way out of a police stop at the traffic lights at Hook Rise North, Tolworth at 11pm on May 21, 2021.

“In an attempt to escape, Overton reversed into a police vehicle and then drove forward ramming a second and injuring an officer.

“Overton pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker but pleaded guilty to failure to stop and driving over the specified drug limit.

“He was subsequently found guilty and sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday to: ·

Dangerous driving – 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months

Disqualified from driving for 24 months until he has passed an extended test

Assault of an emergency worker – six months’ imprisonment to run concurrent, suspended for 24 months

150 hours of unpaid work

Rehabilitation activity requirement – 19 sessions of Thinking Skills programme.”