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Gurajdeep Malhi, 26, jailed after hitting PC Claire Bond with car in attempt to avoid arrest.

Justice: PC Bond, centre, leaving court with PC Mullins, left, and Supt Carl Ratcliffe, right, after her attacker was jailed for 12 years

Date - 2nd September 2019
By - Ceysun Dixon 

3 Comments

 

A man who mowed down an officer breaking her leg and knee as she attempted to stop him from driving towards race runners has been jailed for 12 years.

Banned driver Gurajdeep Malhi, 26, drove at and hit PC Claire Bond as she attempted to stop him from driving into runners who were taking part in the nearby Stafford 10k in September last year.

PC Bond is still undergoing surgery and therapy for the injuries she received almost a year ago. While she has said she wants to return to the frontline, it is believed the severity of her injuries will prevent her from doing so.

Malhi was attempting to evade arrest after he had crashed his car into the back of a garage, following reports he was driving at speeds of 60mph around bends and terraced streets.  

He ran over the Staffordshire Police officer before fleeing the scene and was later picked up by his girlfriend, who was jailed for two years for her role in the incident.

Malhi, of Charnley Road, Stafford, had admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving whilst disqualified for the September 23, 2018 incident.

He was jailed for a total of 12 years and nine months at Stafford Crown Court.  

He was sentenced along with his girlfriend Lucy Bullmore of Morton Road, who was jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine and dangerous driving after helping him escape from police.

The court heard PC Bond and her colleague PC Mullins had attempted to stop Malhi from driving towards the direction of a 10k race after he had crashed his car speeding through narrow streets.

PC Bond had punched the driver in the face in an attempt to stop him driving away, but after reversing his car, the officer was dragged several metres and flung to the floor as the car sped away.

Malhi then fled the scene on foot and was later picked up by his girlfriend in a nearby location in a Range Rover Evoque. After another police chase, the pair were stopped and apprehended.

The PC was later taken to hospital and operated on, with a surgeon saying she was “lucky” to keep her foot.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Staffordshire Police said the case was an “extreme example” of the risks police officers face while on the frontline.

“I am glad Malhi has been sentenced for his reckless and cowardly actions,” said the force’s chief constable, Gareth Morgan.

“The impact on Claire physically and emotionally is clear to see and I pay tribute today to her professionalism, courage and determination on the morning she was attacked and in her approach to returning to full health – both for her family and to allow her to return to the job that she loves.

“I look forward to seeing her back at work doing what she does best – serving the public of Staffordshire.” 

PC Bond has not worked since the incident, following bouts of surgery and physiotherapy stemming from the incident.   

She suffered a left tibia and fibular fracture, a right knee wound and further bone and cartilage damage. The Royal Stoke Hospital surgeon who operated on her, said the officer was “lucky to keep her left foot” due to the extent of the damage.

PC Bond said she hoped lessons could be learnt from the incident, so that “this never happens to anyone ever again”.

She said: “The whole incident has left me not only physically scarred but also emotionally. My legs will never be the same again and I am currently unaware if I will be able to walk, run or ski correctly, let alone return to front line duties within the police force. 

“I'm angry that he's put me in this position but more importantly I'm sad that the impact it has had on my whole family is huge, not only now but for my future also.

I'm determined to return to work, but also to walk unaided, look after my family and be as I was prior to the incident, but whether that is my focus rather than a reality remains to be seen. 

“This was a selfish act, by a selfish person, thinking of only themselves,” she added. 

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