Four years for reversing into motorcycle cop

Dramatic footage shows a disqualified driver reversing into a motorcycle cop, leaving him seriously injured in the road.

Joseph Ward, 24, rammed Inspector Tony McGovern to avoid being arrested for more than a dozen offences including impersonating a police officer.

Insp McGovern was on a motorcycle patrol in Haringey, north London, on 1 July 2022, when he saw Ward behaving suspiciously in a Mitsubushi 4×4.

He spoke with Ward through his driver side window after the car stopped.

Ward then suddenly pulled forward and reversed back into Insp McGovern, before driving away at speed.

Insp McGovern, attached to the Violent Crime Taskforce, called for urgent assistance from other officers and he was taken to hospital with injuries to his legs, shoulders and back.

Ward was identified as the driver and officers discovered he was already wanted for demanding money from another driver on Eade Road, Haringey on 23 June last year.

Following a manhunt, Ward was arrested in Letchworth in Hertfordshire, on 20 July.

Ward was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Insp McGovern and driving disqualified, then linked to two other offence relating to a car crash in Crouch Hill on 5 July.

The next day he had failed to stop for police on Goat Lane, Enfield, and damaged two police cars.

The fugitive who was wanted for conning motorists whilst impersonating a police officer, was arrested weeks later for driving while disqualified.

Ward, of Green Street, Royston, Hertfordshire, admitted 14 offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, impersonating a police officer, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

He was jailed for a total of four years at Wood Green Crown Court.

Insp McGovern said: ‘I have been a police officer for 18 years and I never expected to be deliberately rammed off my motorbike in such a violent and aggressive act.

‘I continue to recover from the injures I suffered that day, however I remain determined to serve the people of London and remove violent and dangerous offenders from the streets.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, who leads the Violent Crime Taskforce, said: ‘Joseph Ward is a dangerous man and I have no doubt that he would have gone on to commit more offences.

‘I am pleased that he has received a custodial sentence and I praise Tony for his outstanding bravery.

‘Our officers work tirelessly to protect the public from violent crime and we will never tolerate any form of assault on emergency workers, whose job it is to protect the public.’

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