Man arrested after police car repeatedly rammed in Coventry

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The incident followed disorder in Coventry in the early hours of New Year's Day



A man has been arrested after a police car was rammed several times in Coventry in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The car sustained heavy damage and three officers were injured in the incident, which happened in Hummingbird Avenue at around 1.30am.

West Midlands Police have said the Coventry incident followed disorder in Hummingbird Avenue.

There were reports of a fight at a property in the road, a motorist deliberately driving at people and someone armed with a knife.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called to Hummingbird Avenue at around 1.30am after a fight broke out at a house.

"There were reports of a motorist deliberately driving at people and suggestions someone was armed with a knife."

The force spokesman added: "Our overnight response crews arrived minutes later but before they could step foot from the car they were rammed by a man driving a Transit van.

"Shockingly, they were rammed around seven times, the impact triggering the car’s airbags, before the driver reversed into another police car."

"The driver tried making off but was cornered nearby and arrested.

"He’s been taken to hospital as it’s suspected he was under the influence of drugs and will later be brought to a police station for questioning.

"Three police officers – including two in the damaged patrol car – suffered neck and back injuries but thankfully were not seriously hurt.

"Our enquiries into the disorder continue."

Earlier a West Midlands Police spokesman said it was not known if the incident was related to a breach of Tier 4 Covid restrictions.

The police have said the damaged car could be a write-off.

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Coventry man repeatedly rammed police car leaving officer pulling glass out of face



A Coventry man has been jailed for more than eight years after repeatedly ramming a police car with his van.

Paul Neelan, 30, used "a van as a weapon" on New Year's Day last year (2021) when two officers tried to pull him over on Hummingbird Avenue because of his driving.

He was previously charged with two counts of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm on the officers and a jury found him guilty after he pleaded his innocence.

And today (March 4), he was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison.

One of the officers said in his witness statement he "recalls picking glass out of his head and face after the window smashed when he (Neelan) had hit it".

Neelan, who was high on drugs at the time, rammed the Vauxhall Insignia patrol car six times with his Transit van which forced the car to reverse.

Although the injuries to both officers were not life-threatening, it has left them needing physical rehabilitation and "changes the way" they are as police officers.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said this is of the "most serious offence" and should see Neelan jailed for longest amount of time possible.

Neelan was on bail at the time for a dangerous driving conviction which led to four other people being hospitalised and one of the victim's was put in a coma - Judge Lockhart said he took this into consideration when sentencing him.

Back in June 2019, Neelan, who is referred to as 'ginge', offered to be the "designated driver" for three people heading home from a Coventry club.

He then started to drive uncontrollably in a 30mph zone at a speed between 80 and 103mph while one of the victims "pleaded and begged with him to slow down".

All three people in the car, including himself, needed hospital treatment after hitting a taxi head-on. The taxi driver also needed medical attention.

Neelan, of Cedars Avenue, Coundon, already has 22 previous convictions.