A 24-year-old man guilty of 14 offences including reversing into a police officer to avoid arrest has been jailed for four years. 

Joseph Ward, of Green Street, Royston, Hertfordshire, was approached by Insp Tony McGovern on July 1 last year after arousing suspicion by the way he was driving at the Upton Road and Woolmer Road junction in Edmonton. 

Insp McGovern, who was on a motorcycle patrol, spoke with Ward through his driver-side window after the car came to a stop. 

Ward then suddenly pulled forward and instantly reversed into Insp McGovern, before hurriedly driving off. 

Insp McGovern called for assistance, and was later taken to hospital with injuries to his legs, shoulders and back. 

A subsequent investigation identified Ward as the driver, and officers were able to link him to several other incidents from 2022. 

These included posing as a police officer to demand money from a driver on Eade Road, Haringey, on 23 June, a collision in Crouch Hill on July 5, and failing to stop for police on Goat Lane in Enfield and damaging two police cars on July 6. 

He was arrested in Letchworth, Hertfordshire on July 20, and charged the following day.

Ham & High: Joseph WardJoseph Ward (Image: Met Police) 

Having previously pleaded guilty to 14 offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, impersonating a police officer, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police, Ward was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on February 1.

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."

Det Ch Supt 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. 

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"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.”