A MAN who deliberately mowed down a police officer in Evesham has been jailed for 10 years.

Michael Park had already admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified but said he did not intend to hit PC Paul Buffery with the car in Evesham.

The 46-year-old of Evesham Road, Cleeve Prior, denied attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following the incident in Oat Street near the junction with Chapel Street at around noon on February 7.

But today a jury of nine men and three women found him guilty at Worcester Crown Court.

PC Buffery suffered bruising and abrasions but no broken bones. The car was later found in Bidford upon Avon.

Heidi Kubik, prosecuting, said: “There was ample room if the defendant so chose to drive around him. The prosecution say this was no accident.”

The court heard how Park had previously said to the officer in the town’s library, ‘haven’t you got anything better to do?’ but said he did not recognise it was the same police officer when he later struck him with the car.

Miss Kubik said Park had lied in an attempt to get himself out of trouble but that the lie was untenable in the face of the evidence against him.

She added: “He knows full well he drove at the police officer. He didn’t want to be stopped or arrested. He didn’t want the car to be seized.”Miss Kubik said Park had slowed initially before accelerating at the officer.She told the jury: “His temper got the better of him. He intended to cause him really serious injuries.”

But Glenn Carrasco, defending, said there were many inconsistencies in the prosecution case. He also stressed that Park had no previous convictions for violence and had already admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He said: “You may think this is a man who owns up to his mistakes.” He also said Park had surrendered three to four hours after the incident.

The defence claimed Park had earlier said from the witness box that he  was just 20ft from the officer when he stepped in front of the car and he could not stop.

Mr Carrasco added: “What could he do? He said in interview. Mr Park is confronted with an impossible situation. He couldn’t have stopped.”

Estimates of his speed ranged between 25mph and 30mph according to the various witnesses.

Park has six to eight convictions for driving while disqualified, one of which resulted in a five month jail term.

PC Buffery said he had an imprint of the Honda badge on his leg.