Drug driver struck police officer with BMW while high on cocaine in city centre

Lewis Garside clipped the elbow of the officer after he tried to speak with him in the early hours of July 13, last year, just off Westgate.

Vincent Blake-Barnard, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that the officer had been investigating a case of criminal damage before he approached the car.

Before he had chance to speak with the driver, the BMW sped off along Westgate and up a one-way street, Drury Lane, the wrong way.

There was no indication as to how badly injured the officer was in the incident.

Two hours later, the BMW was seen in the car park at Asda on Asdale Road, Durkar, and police approached him again.

Garside drove off but stopped after a brief chase.

The defendant initially told police he was the driver of the vehicle but denied clipping the police officer in the earlier incident.

Garside, 21, of Partridge Crescent, Thornhill, pleaded guilty to being over the drug-drive limit, dangerous driving and obstructing a police officer.

A probation report into Garside suggested he regretted his actions, that his "head had been all over the place" after the death of a family member and made a "massive mistake" by being offered cocaine that night and taking it.

Georgina Goring, mitigating, said: "He is very sorry and is ashamed of his actions.

"His family are supportive of him and he has not used any drugs since the date of this offence, which was nearly 18 months ago."

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told him: "While you were trying to get away you struck a police officer. I'm not saying you intended to strike him but he could have sustained a serious injury."

Garside was given a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work.