Yobs hurl brick at police car from Coventry Ring Road bridge

[dutchman]

Two police officers spent the night in hospital after a large brick was thrown through their windscreen from a bridge over Coventry Ring Road.



The officers were on their way to an emergency 999 call at around 11.40pm last night and were passing between junctions five and six, near Coventry railway station, when the brick came smashing through the windscreen of their police car.

The 49-year-old police sergeant and 27-year-old police constable, both men, were taken to hospital where they had to be treated for facial injuries.

Senior police officers hit out at the “mindless” actions – saying it is only by luck that the two officers concerned were not more seriously injured.

Det Insp Stuart Bell said: “The officers, who between them have over 30 years’ service, were on their way to an emergency call when we believe two people deliberately targeted a police car.

“Fortunately the officers are not seriously hurt − it is by pure luck that we are not dealing with a more serious incident.

“Not only did the mindless action of these people cause police officers having to spend a night in hospital but it also meant that someone who desperately needed our help and had dialled 999 was left vulnerable.

“I am sure someone out there knows who did this and I am appealing to anyone with any knowledge of the people involved to come forward and to call the police.

“Both men have now been released from hospital and are spending time with their families as they continue to recover from this incident.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Coventry Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

[dutchman]

I take issue with the phrase "mindless" here.

The yobs knew exactly what they were doing and what the consequences might be.

I've said before that anyone guilty of such an offence should be convicted of "attempted murder" but so far no one has and the offences continue.

[dutchman]

Charge over Coventry police car brick attack

A man has been charged after a large brick smashed through a police car's windscreen from a bridge in Coventry.

Two officers were treated in hospital for facial injuries after the incident on the city's ring road on Sunday while they were responding to a 999 call.

Jason Gamble, 44, of Harnall Lane West in Foleshill, is charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life.

Mr Gamble has been remanded in custody and is due before Coventry Magistrates' on 28 May.

A second man, aged 19, is being questioned by West Midlands Police in connection with the attack.

[dutchman]

See also: "Man who brought Coventry to a standstill with ring road bridge protest is jailed"

[dutchman]

Three-year football ban for Sky Blues fan who threw a bottle during protest at Ricoh Arena



A Sky Blues fan has been banned from attending football matches for three years after he admitted throwing a missile on to a pitch during a game.

Jason Gamble, aged 44, was first arrested after Coventry City’s home game against Swindon Town at the Ricoh Arena on January 12.

Gamble, formerly of Plants Hill Crescent, Tile Hill, was taking part in protests against the football club’s owners, Sisu, when the incident happened.

He answered bail four times before he was finally charged with throwing a missile – believed to be a bottle – on to the pitch.

Today he appeared at Coventry Magistrates Court via video link from HMP Hewell where he is being held on remand concerning separate charges.

During the hearing Gamble pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was handed the three year football banning order and fined £110.

Gamble was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge, but no compensation was ordered by magistrates.

[dutchman]

Coventry man guilty of throwing stone slab at police car



A man threw a stone slab through a police car's windscreen as officers responded to a 999 call.

Jason Gamble, 45, of Harnall Lane West in Coventry, threw the missile from a bridge on Ringway St Patrick's in the city on 15 February.

It landed in the back of the car, and two officers suffered minor injuries.

Gamble was found guilty of damaging property with intent to endanger life at Warwick Crown Court and will be sentenced on 11 December.

Det Insp Stuart Bell, from West Midlands Police, said: "Gamble's reckless actions showed no regard for their safety or that of any potential victims in the incident they were responding to."

[dutchman]

Dad who dropped huge stone on police car as it responded to emergency jailed

A man who dropped a coping stone on a police car as it rushed to an emergency has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Jason Gamble, of Harnall Lane West, Foleshill, hurled the stone from a bridge over Coventry Ring Road, which smashed through the windscreen of the patrol car late on the evening of February 15, 2015

He was sentenced at the crown court in Leamington yesterday after being found guilty of causing criminal damage with the intention of endangering the lives of two police officers.

The officers were responding to a reported burglary and were passing under a bridge near to Coventry train station when their car was hit.

Hugh Williams, prosecuting, said: “Mr Gamble dropped the stone from the bridge which hit the window and then saw glass shattering in to the police car.

“One officer suffered a bruised shoulder and glass in both eyes, while the other had pain in his shoulder, possibly after being hit by the brick.”

The 45-year-old former baker and Aston Martin worker was arrested the following day after he was identified by a fellow resident at the Salvation Army hostel where Gamble was staying.

Police also identified him after checking CCTV footage.

Gamble had denied the charge and went on trial in November but a jury took just two hours to reach a guilty verdict.

Sentencing Gamble to eight years in prison, Judge Alan Parker said: “You covered your face with a scarf and hurled the coping stone at the police car.

“This led the police officer who was driving to believe he had been shot at with a bullet from a gun.

“There is no doubt the lives of the police officers were put in immediate danger and also those of anyone else on that stretch of road.

“You were reckless as to the risk - mercifully those risks were not realised but that was by pure chance.

“This incident came from your selfish and irrational obsession that somehow others were to blame for your own situation.”