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Drama as supermarket drug suspect drives at police




Officer dived to safety as colleague smashes windscreen with baton

AN officer jumped for her life as a fleeing drug suspect drove straight at her in a supermarket car park.

A brave shopper then intervened, blocking the runaway vehicle.

But the drama only ended after another police officer threw her baton to a colleague, who used it to smash the window of the car.

One horrified witness said he thought the officer had been run over and killed.

The astonishing scenes happened in daylight in the busy car park at Sainsbury’s in Hector’s Way, Newbury.

In the dock at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 3, was 55-year-old Uplifter Nickelson, who was visiting his family in town.

Louise Attrill, prosecuting, said Mr Nickelson was known to Newbury police as a drug user and had been spotted acting suspiciously in a hired car in the car park.

When officers moved in to speak to him, the court heard, he refused to engage with them, keeping his window closed and door locked.

But as PC Cheryl Mills from Newbury police stood in front of the Hyundai to check the registration, the court heard, Mr Nickelson suddenly released the handbrake, revved the engine and drove straight at her, causing the terrified officer to dive for safety.

Ms Attrill said he then careered, at speed, through the mother and baby section of the busy car park, swerving as he did so.

PC Chris Eaton, who was off duty but had alerted colleagues to Mr Nickelson’s suspicious activity, told magistrates: “The car had stopped outside the main entrance of Sainsbury’s.

“He drove straight at PC Mills, who was directly in front.

“She put her hands out to protect herself and jumped aside, otherwise she would have been run over.”

Officers gave chase and a brave member of the public blocked his exit.

At that point, the court heard, PC Natalie Cox threw her baton to a colleague who used it to smash the Hyundai’s window and arrest Mr Nickelson.

He later replied “no comment” to all questions put to him by police.

Mr Nickelson denied dangerous driving on April 8 last year and insisted that he had pulled away gently while PC Mills was to the side of his vehicle.

CCTV footage screened during the hearing showed PC Mills going to the front of the car then disappearing from view as it shot forward.

Mr Nickelson, who lives in Saxon Court, Swindon, Wiltshire, said he was a regular visitor to Newbury where his son lives, and that he had driven away from police “in a moment of madness”.

He added: “I’m fed up with the police in Newbury beating me up.”

But an independent witness corroborated the officers’ account, saying he thought PC Mills was “a goner”.

After retiring to confer, magistrates convicted Mr Nickelson of dangerous driving.

He has numerous previous convictions, the court heard, including convictions for motoring offences.

Mr Nickelson was fined £150 and ordered to pay £350 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

In addition he was banned from driving for 12 months and will have to take an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel again.



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