Man faces jail after hitting police officer with car

A Dumfries man is facing prison after admitting hitting a police officer with a car in the town last year.

Insp Jonathan Edgar was thrown into the air after being struck by a car driven by Martin McGroary, 27, on 28 July last year on the town's Herries Avenue.

McGroary pleaded guilty to culpable and reckless conduct to severe injury. He also admitted driving without insurance and failing to report the incident.

Sentence at the High Court in Glasgow was deferred pending background reports until next month by judge Lord Cubie, who disqualified McGroary from driving and continued his remand in custody.

The court was told police had been called out amid concerns regarding McGroary, whose brother had recently died in a road traffic accident.

The inspector parked the police car close to a police van before McGroary drove slowly between both vehicles.

Officers thought he was going to get out of his car when the door opened but, after one drew a baton, he closed it again.

Prosecutor David Dickson KC said: "McGroary was then seen to unexpectedly accelerate and drive away at excessive speed in the direction of both police vehicles and where Insp Edgar stood beside his vehicle.

"Where he stood placed Insp Edgar close to the centre line of the road."

The space between both police vehicles was stated to be "minimal."

Edgar ran towards the pavement to try to avoid being struck.

Dickson told the court: "However, the front offside of McGroary's vehicle struck Insp Edgar and threw him into the air.

"The officer travelled approximately 10ft to 15ft and landed on the road."

The inspector was taken to hospital where he was found to have a dislocated shoulder, head and face injuries as well as several areas of bruising.

The court heard he had been unable to return to work since the incident.

John Scullion KC, defending, told the court: "There had been an argument with family members who live on the street about where his brother should be buried.

"This was why Mr McGroary was on the street.

"He was extremely upset by the death of his brother and thereafter by the arguments."

He claimed his client thought he was going to be arrested and had driven off.

"He thought there was enough room to pass the police on the road which was clearly reckless in that regard which resulted in him striking the inspector," he added.

Sentence was deferred but the judge told him a prison term was "inevitable".

Det Insp Scott Wilson said it was "a terrifying incident" for the officer involved.

He added: "I hope this conviction brings some comfort to the officer and his colleagues and sends a message that this type of violent behaviour against police officers and staff will not be tolerated."