PHIPPS:DRIVER BEHIND BARS FOR MOWING DOWN COP THEN REVERSING OVER HIM

A motorist who mowed down an off-duty policeman on a pavement then reversed back over him was behind bars today (Thurs).

Nathan Phipps, 22, ran over Detective Inspector Peter Howarth just yards from his front door after the officer told him to stop sounding his horn at 6am.

Mr Howarth, 53, collapsed in a driveway and screamed: ‘Don’t let him kill me’ as Phipps prepared to reverse back over him, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The keen marathon runner had to undergo emergency plastic surgery for a double fracture to his leg, and needed a metal plate inserted in an attempt to repair the damage.

The officer is due to undergo another operation tomorrow (fri).

Phipps was today (thurs) convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving after a trial.

Friends and relatives of the apprentice electrician wept as Judge Inigo Bing remanded him in custody ahead of sentence next week and told him: ‘You know a custodial sentence is inevitable.’

Phipps had driven to Overton Drive, Wanstead, east London, at around 6am on November 21 last year, where his girlfriend was staying after the couple agreed to split up.

He was challenged by Mr Howarth along with several other neighbours for driving up and down the street, repeatedly sounding his horn to get his girlfriend’s attention.

Mr Howard asked Phipps to wind down his side window but fearing the driver was reaching for a weapon, smashed the glass and pulled him from the vehicle.

They spoke briefly, after which Phipps got back into the car as if to drive off.

But Phipps aimed the car at the pavement, floored the accelerator and careered straight into Mr Howarth, the court heard.

He then reversed over the stricken detective after he collapsed in a driveway, leaving him with major leg fractures and bruising to his arms as well as grazing to his arms, back and neck.

Neighbour John Woolnough was woken by the car horn and had gone to investigate along with Mr Howarth.

He told the court after the row he believed Phipps was going to drive away but he noticed the car was pointing towards the pavement.

‘I heard a very dull thud and a piercing scream,’ he said.

‘I could not tell you what he was saying, but you could just tell that he was in trouble.

‘After he had hit Peter he reversed out.

‘Peter was screaming at this point.’

Phipps had then turn his car around and ‘floored it’ in reverse towards the driveway where Mr Howarth had collapsed, he said.

Timothy Downes, who watched the incident from a first-floor bedroom in the street, told the court he heard Mr Howarth shout out as the car reversed towards him.

He said: ‘As the car went back I heard him shout ‘Don’t let him kill me’.’

Phipps was arrested two days later after he attended the police station with a solicitor.

Giving evidence, he claimed Mr Howarth did not identify himself as a police officer and he was ‘in a panic’ and ‘very afraid’ as he tried to drive off following the altercation.

He said he was not aware that he had hit anyone, though when he returned home, he noticed his car bumper was hanging off.

Asked he if deliberately drove at Mr Howarth, he replied: ‘I would never do that.

‘It was an accident what happened.’

Phipps of (90) Stokes Road, Forest Gate, east London, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving but cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
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