Latest news with #HarveyBell
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Harvey Bell: Teenager who deliberately drove car at PC detained
A teenager who ran over a police officer and then "cowardly" sped away from the scene has been sentenced. Harvey Bell, 19, deliberately drove at PC Tracy Hallworth, knocking her to the ground before running over her legs with both sets of happened after the uniformed officer from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and a male colleague were responding to reports of four men taking drugs in a black Audi at a Sainsbury's car park in Cheadle at about 23:30 GMT on 25 Hallworth, 54, lost consciousness and suffered a dislocated kneecap and a wound to her wrist. Bell, who handed himself in the following day, was detained for two years and seven months. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how, as the officers approached, Bell revved the Audi's engine and then reversed a short distance away before PC Hallworth stood 6.5ft (2m) in front of the vehicle and ordered him to ignored her as he revved the engine again and accelerated forward with no attempt to change direction, prosecutor Sacha Waxman said. PC Hallworth was taken to hospital and spent a fortnight off work and although she had recovered from her physical injuries the psychological impact remained, the court heard. In a statement read to the court, PC Hallworth said: "Bell drove off not knowing if I was dead or alive. "It haunts me that if I fell the other way he would have gone over my head and I might not be here."I will never forgive Bell for the upset he caused my family. What he did to me is permanently in the back of my mind on every job I go to."Thanks to the support of my family and my GMP family, Bell has not been able to take away the thing I love most, my job as a police officer."An attack on a police officer is an attack on us all."Bell, of previous good character, was said by his barrister Rebecca Penfold to have expressed his "significant remorse". 'Cowardly' However, Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth noted that was "at odds" with his pre-sentence report which said he felt a "sense of injustice" at being held on remand in custody since he handed himself in the following told him: "You must have known you had hit her but you cowardly left the scene. You could have killed her."Bell, from Knutsford in Cheshire, who will serve his sentence in a Young Offender Institution, was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended the sentencing, Victoria Agullo, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Assaults against frontline officers are totally unacceptable and today's sentence for Harvey Bell should leave those who would use a car as a weapon in no doubt that they will face the full force of the law." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Teenager who left female 'police officer of the year' critically injured after mowing her down in Audi to avoid weed rap jailed for 31 months
A teenager who mowed down an 'exceptional' hero police officer in his aunt's car has today been locked up for two years and seven months. Harvey Bell, 19, drove the black Audi Q2 straight at PC Tracy Hallworth, who had been called to reports of four males inhaling nitrous oxide balloons in a Sainsbury's car park. The former supermarket manager - who joined the police in her mid-30s - was knocked down and dragged along the ground, with the car's wheels running over both her legs. PC Hallworth, who received an officer-of-the year award in 2023, was left unconscious and suffered serous injuries including a dislocated knee and a deep cut to her wrist. Today the 54-year-old said in a powerful victim personal statement that she was 'simply doing my job' and would 'never forgive' Bell, who was later caught with a bag of cannabis. In hard-hitting comments read to the sentencing hearing the grandmother slammed the callous minority who view police with 'contempt', adding: 'Assaults on police need to stop.' The courageous officer - now back on frontline duties - said Bell 'hasn't been able to take away the thing I love doing the most - my job as a police officer'. 'On Saturday 25 January, I donned my uniform and became a police officer, a role that I am immensely proud to do,' she said 'By the end of my shift, I was in hospital, a victim of a violent assault that was equally despicable and totally unprovoked and needless. 'In my 16 years as a frontline officer, I have been met with violence - I have been punched, kicked and spat at, sometimes from the very people I am trying to help. 'Week after week, I put on my uniform, because despite the violence and the hate, it is still the most rewarding job, knowing that you have helped someone in even the smallest way, far outweighs the verbal and physical abuse from the few. 'I have always given the haters, the minority that kick and punch us, the benefit of the doubt. 'I felt that they don't see me as a person, a mum, a nanna, they just see the uniform, the black vest. 'But this is just an excuse and should not give people the right to hurt and assault us. The uniform that I wear is often disregarded and treated with contempt. 'On that Saturday night shift, I was on routine patrol, and I was thoughtlessly mown down by Harvey Bell, simply for doing my job. 'There was no confrontation, just a simple request from a police officer to stop their car. 'Bell drove the vehicle straight at me, causing me to fall to the ground, he then, without a thought, drove over my legs, before leaving the scene at speed, not knowing if I was alive or dead.' The grandmother said she had suffered psychologically and the incident was 'in the back of her mind' every job she went to. 'Each day I will go back out and put on my uniform and Bell will not take that away from me. 'I know that Bell's abhorrent behaviour is an exception, and the majority of the public we serve do not wish us harm, but assaults on police need to stop. 'An attack on a police officer is an attack on us all. Bell is a danger to society and had total disregard for my life.' The teenager later handed himself in to police but answered 'no comment' when interviewed. A bag of cannabis was found during a search of the bedroom of his home in Knutsford, Cheshire. The car - which he was not insured to drive - has never been recovered. Sentencing Bell to 31 months in a young offenders institution, Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth said he had 'deliberately' driven the Audi at the PC because he was 'too gutless' to be caught uninsured and with cannabis. Police had been called to reports of four males inhaling nitrous oxide balloons in a vehicle parked at a retail park in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, around midnight on January 25. Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard how PC Hallworth, along with a male officer, attended. Sacha Waxman, prosecuting, said both officers exited the vehicle and the male officer ordered the Audi driver - Bell - to 'get out'. But Bell 'revved' the engine and reversed the car a short distance. PC Hallworth then approached the Audi and raised her hands for him to 'stop' and turn off the engine. But Bell continued to rev the engine, Ms Waxman said, in 'intimidation', and the car then accelerated towards the officer, who was standing two metres away. Shocking bodycam footage played in court showed PC Hallworth placing her hands on the bonnet of the Audi before it drove straight at her and she was knocked to the ground. PC Hallworth initially managed to get to her feet, the court heard, before collapsing unconscious. When interviewed, she said that if she had fallen to ground the opposite way the Audi would have driven over her body and her head, potentially causing fatal injuries. Ms Waxman said Bell had driven the Audi at PC Hallworth 'deliberately and without warning' and made no attempt to stop as she lay injured on the ground. The officer's colleague described her being 'dragged ten metres' by the car which 'bounced' over her body. Bell pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and a charge of possession of a class B drug, cannabis, at an earlier hearing. Sentencing him, the judge said his expressions of remorse were at odds with statements he'd given in which he 'victim-blamed' and 'expressed hostile feelings towards police'. He'd shown 'deliberate disregard' to the dangers to others, she said, adding: 'The injuries and impact of your offending could have been far worse'. Bell was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended retest. After picking up her officer-of-the-year award in 2023, PC Hallworth was described as 'exceptional' and a 'role-model' by her superiors at Greater Manchester Police. Along with colleagues, she arrested four men carrying machetes in Stockport town centre. On another call-out, a male suspect tried to push her out of a window while being arrested and she once had to talk down a teenage girl from a bridge. PC Hallworth's service was also praised by ex-Chief Superintendent John Webster, now Assistant Chief Constable. 'Tracy's performance is exceptional; her approach, her nurture and mentoring of junior officers is something to be admired,' he said. After the ceremony the former supermarket manager, who joined the police 'late in life' in her mid-30s, said: 'I have been on response for the past 15 years and still have pride and a sense of accomplishment in doing my job. 'I have lost count of the amount of jobs where a calm demeanour makes the difference between significant harm and a place of safety for the individual involved. 'I cannot express enough that the role of response officer is exhilarating, sometimes heart-breaking but mostly rewarding, and I am lucky to be part of an amazing team.' PC Hallworth, who also works as a family liaison officer, was later invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Today Stockport Operational Policing Chief Inspector John Picton, said: 'This incident was truly shocking and a terrifying ordeal for the frontline response police officer who sustained serious injuries. 'There was absolutely no need for this incident to have happened or to end in the traumatic way it did. 'It highlights how routine incidents attended by our frontline officers can quickly escalate into very dangerous situations. 'I am pleased to report that the officer has returned to full duties on the frontline, doing the job they love, protecting the community of Stockport.' Senior Crown Prosecutor Victoria Agulló said: 'Assaults against frontline officers are totally unacceptable and today's sentence for Harvey Bell should leave those who would use a car as a weapon in no doubt that they will face the full force of the law.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
He 'used his car as a weapon' and rammed into a police officer in a Sainsbury's car park
A thug 'used his car as a weapon' to deliberately ram into a police officer in a horror collision in a Sainsbury's car park in Cheadle. Police had been responding to reports of men taking class C drugs in the supermarket car park on Wilmslow Rad at around 11.45pm on January 25 of this year and asked that 19-year-old Harvey Bell remain in his Audi and turn off his engine. Instead, he reversed the car and, as a female officer approached the front windscreen, he then drove towards her, knocking her to the ground and drove over her legs with both sets of wheels before speeding away from the scene. READ MORE: Missing Brit Greg Monks who disappeared after Portugal stag do found dead READ MORE: Arrests in major murder probe after ex-rugby league player Mick Martindale dies The victim briefly lost consciousness and suffered a deep cut requiring hospital treatment alongside bruising, cuts and scratches to her leg and arm. Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE In a victim impact statement read out in court, the officer involved said: 'On Saturday 25 January, I donned my uniform and became a police officer, a role that I am immensely proud to do. By the end of my shift, I was in hospital, a victim of a violent assault that was equally despicable and totally unprovoked and needless. 'In my 16 years as a frontline officer, I have been met with violence - I have been punched, kicked and spat at, sometimes from the very people I am trying to help. 'I have always given the haters, the minority that kick and punch us, the benefit of the doubt. I felt that they don't see me as a person, a mum, a nanna, they just see the uniform, the black vest. 'On that Saturday night shift, I was on routine patrol, and I was thoughtlessly mown down by Harvey Bell, simply for doing my job. There was no confrontation, just a simple request from a police officer to stop their car. 'Bell drove the vehicle straight at me, causing me to fall to the ground, he then, without a thought, drove over my legs, before leaving the scene at speed, not knowing if I was alive or dead. 'My injuries have healed, the pain will go away, but the trauma of watching those wheels drive over my legs, the feeling of helplessness gives me continuous nightmares to this day." Bell, of Bennet Drive in Knutsford, was traced and arrested by police the following day, January 26. He initially answered no comment in his interview but later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and possession of cannabis. The 19-year-old appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (June 4) where he was sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute. He was also disqualified from driving for two years. Victoria Agulló, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: 'Assaults against frontline officers are totally unacceptable and today's sentence for Harvey Bell should leave those who would use a car as a weapon in no doubt that they will face the full force of the law. 'In her victim personal statement, the officer explained that whilst her injuries have healed, the trauma of watching the wheels drive over her legs and the feeling of helplessness still gives her nightmares. 'The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build this case, including eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage and cell site data leaving Bell nowhere to go but admit what he had done. 'As Bell begins his prison sentence, I sincerely hope the officer, who is now back serving the public, can start to move forward knowing Bell has been brought to justice.' Stockport Operational Policing Chief Inspector John Picton, added: 'This incident was truly shocking and a terrifying ordeal for the frontline Response Police officer who sustained serious injuries. "There was absolutely no need for this incident to have happened or to end in the traumatic way it did. It highlights how routine incidents attended by our frontline officers can quickly escalate into very dangerous situations. "Our police officers work every shift, answering the publics call for help in their hour of need, responding to incidents and providing an outstanding service to the communities they serve, achieving fantastic results in situations that are often challenging. "Assaults on our officers are completely unacceptable and won't be tolerated. If you commit crime, we will find you and put you before the courts. The officer received the appropriate support and care from her colleagues and welfare network during her ordeal and recovery. "I am pleased to report that the officer has returned to full duties on the frontline, doing the job they love, protecting the community of Stockport.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Assault charge after police officer hit by car
A 19-year-old man has been charged with assault after a police officer was seriously injured when she was hit by a vehicle. Harvey Bell, of Knutsford, has also been charged with dangerous driving and possession of a Class B drug after the officer was struck at a retail park on Wilsmlow Road in Cheadle, Stockport on Saturday. Superintendent Rick Arthern of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the officer was recovering at home after the "truly terrifying incident". Mr Bell is set to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court later. Detectives are still trying to track down the Black Audi used to run over the officer at the retail park at about 23:55 GMT, and have urged anyone who may have seen the incident to get in touch. Supt Arthern said the force as "delighted to secure these charge, which show that assaults on our officers are completely unacceptable". "This was a truly terrifying incident for a frontline officer to go through." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Greater Manchester Police
