4 days ago
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.'
