Wanted man who drove directly at police officer is jailed

Michael Patrick Kinsella, 44, was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra in Claife Avenue in the early hours of June 8. Kinsella was wanted on a warrant having failed to turn up at court three days earlier.

PC David Tortoishell was one of those tasked with finding Kinsella, whom he spotted and clearly identified on the residential road at around 1-20am.

But having signalled for him to stop, the uniformed officer saw him reverse at speed into a cul de sac before revving the engine very loudly and driving forward towards the PC with "no attempt to deviate".

"When I realised the driver was coming straight towards me I jumped to my left so I remained on the pavement," PC Tortoishell told Carlisle Crown Court earlier this week.

Had he not done so, the officer stated: "I would have gone over the bonnet." A wing mirror clipped his hand as the Astra drove off.

The following day PC Tortoishell saw a different car being driven by Kinsella, who was arrested after the officer reported the sighting.

Father-of-four Kinsella denied charges of dangerous driving and assault with intent to resist arrest. But today, following a trial, jurors unanimously found him guilty of both crimes.

Kinsella claimed he wasn't driving the Astra which, he said, he'd sold several weeks before. He even produced a photograph for his trial of a man he said he understood had been behind the wheel.

But the PC had stated in his evidence: "I had no doubt whatsoever that it was Mr Kinsella."

The court heard Kinsella, of Steeton Road, Blackpool, had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, and served jail terms class A drugs supply crimes.

Jailing Kinsella for 14 months, Recorder Michael Murray said: "You endangered him (the PC) deliberately. You drove at him deliberately. If he hadn't have jumped out of the way he could easily have sustained injuries."

Kinsella must serve a three-year driving ban when released, and taken an extended test.