Driver who hit police car jailed
A DANGEROUS driver has been jailed after ramming a police car and mounting the pavement as he attempted to evade being arrested.
Armando Lattuca, of Stevens Walk, Bradley Stoke who was sentenced yesterday at Bristol Crown Court on his 47th birthday, admitted dangerous driving on March 29 last year.
Paul Ricketts, prosecuting, said Lattuca was driving his partner home in a Mini to St Paul's Road in Bedminster at around 9am but police were waiting for him in regards to a alleged common assault.
"The defendant's Mini drew up and officers activated their blue lights to indicate that they wanted him to stop," Mr Ricketts said.
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"But the Mini did not stop and went to the end of the road and turned around. Police then pursued the vehicle down St Paul's Road in the opposite direction.
"Other police cars positioned themselves in a way to try and cause the defendant to stop his vehicle.
"The defendant at this point drove straight towards the police car that had been following him colliding with the front near side of the vehicle, making no attempt to stop.
"Having hit it he then tried to squeeze unsuccessfully through the gap scraping parked vehicles.
"He then reversed and drove down St John's Road. At the junction with Coronation Road he went on the pavement hitting wheelie bins and narrowly missing the side of a house.
"It was also noted that there was a member of the public on the pavement. He subsequently stopped at a red light and police cars blocked him in and he was arrested."
Mr Ricketts said Lattuca hit the police car at around 20mph and that the incident lasted three minutes.
He said the defendant had no previous driving offences.
Derek Perry, defending, said his client was serving a three month sentence for the common assault referred to by Mr Ricketts and asked Judge Simon Darwall-Smith to keep a new term as short as possible. Lattuca was jailed for six months.
Comments
by MarkBS9
Monday, May 14 2012, 3:58PM
“Well, fair play: at least he stopped at a red light.”
by GREASYRON
Monday, May 14 2012, 11:37AM
“ilovecycling, Siclist...how many sock puppets does this saddo actually have? Shhesh.”
by yey_cycling
Monday, May 14 2012, 11:28AM
“How did this happen?
The motorist went on the pavement and managed to avoid all the cyclists on there!
At least when he comes out of jail he will immediately be able to cycle. No licence/insurance/MOT/registered owner required there!”
by simon12345678
Sunday, May 13 2012, 2:42PM
“Imagine if the did the same thing but with a bicycle/........
Absolute carnage!”
by ilovecycling
Sunday, May 13 2012, 11:43AM
“Of course cyclists don't like pavement parking. After all, if motorists are parked on the pavement where are cyclists meant to cycle?”
by simon12345678
Sunday, May 13 2012, 11:11AM
“http://tinyurl.com/cucxjvu
Nope, the comments are definitely disabled.”
by simon12345678
Sunday, May 13 2012, 11:04AM
“Hilarious how car drivers bang on about cyclists on the pavement when they are shown to be law breaking, injuring and causnig criminal damage...
The comments made by "ilovecycling" prove this.
It says a lot!”
by roly12345
Sunday, May 13 2012, 1:26AM
“Thanks for the info Jduck.
It does seem out of step with reality that the object becomes the target for qualification rather than the person wielding it.
If I was tasked with the responsibility of protecting society and a known miscreant was driving his car at me with no concern for my or anyone else's life, I would take out my Avon & Somerset issued Glock and cool his brain with some new air vents.
Just as well I only wield a mouse and keyboard then!”
by ilovecycling
Sunday, May 13 2012, 12:20AM
“Remember, there has never been a confirmed case of cyclists on the pavement.
Never. No. Never. Nope. No.
http://tinyurl.com/7kk4qeb”
by GasNet
Saturday, May 12 2012, 6:28PM
“Driver hits police car and is jailed for six months. Another driver, in a different story on this website, hits a 11 year-old child whilst travelling at between 64-67 mph in a 30 mph limit and gets a suspended sentence. Do judges value police cars over children?”