A SENTENCE handed to a quad driver who was spared an immediate jail sentence after his vehicle ran into a police officer and pinned him against his patrol car has been slammed as “disgraceful”.

Brian Booth, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, branded the suspended six-month sentence a “slap on the wrist” and called for minimum mandatory jail sentences for such offences.

Earlier this month, the Telegraph & Argus reported that Judge David Hatton QC accepted that Faisal Hussain was genuinely sorry for injuring the officer who had seen him driving on the pavement in Ingleby Road, Bradford, and undertaking several vehicles.

Hussain, 25, of Curzon Road, Bradford Moor, Bradford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on a Polaris Scrambler quad bike on June 25 last year and assaulting a police constable acting as an emergency worker.

Bradford Crown Court heard police officers in a marked patrol vehicle saw a group of quad bikes and a motorbike travelling through Bradford at 10.45pm.

The rider of the motorcycle had no rear number plate or helmet and the officers decided to stop him.

They then saw Hussain’s quad bike mount the pavement and undertake several vehicles. Officers activated their blue lights and one of them got out of the car to speak to Hussain.

“The quad bike ran him to the ground and pinned him against the patrol car,” prosecutor Jade Edwards told the court.

Officers chased after Hussain and apprehended him.

He immediately told them he was sorry and said he had been attempting to reverse when the bike went forward.

The officer had to go to Bradford Royal Infirmary with an injured leg and a cut hand.

Hussain’s barrister, Emma Handley, said it was an automatic bike and he was trying to reverse away from the officer when it “surged forward” and struck him.

He did not mean to use the vehicle as a weapon and the injuries were minor. But the West Yorkshire Police Federation, the body which represents police officers in the region, hit out at the outcome of the case.

Mr Booth said: “This over lenient sentence is the very reason the Federation continue to campaign for stronger sentencing guidelines. 

“It’s disgraceful that this individual is still at liberty and an insult to my colleagues who are actively combating anti-social and dangerous driving in Bradford.”

He added: “The public are sick of individuals driving like this in Bradford and when my colleagues catch one of them red handed, they get a slap on the wrist. The offender was so sorry for injuring the officer, he ran away, not stopping and rendering first aid. Another lame excuse accepted by an out of touch judiciary. 

“It is time we had a minimum mandatory jail sentence for offences like this.”

The Ministry of Justice said it could not comment on sentencing, as it is a matter for independent judges who take into account the facts of each case.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving to life, as well as for those who cause death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

A new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving will be created and there are also plans to to increase maximum penalties further, from 12 months to two years, for those who assault police or other emergency workers.

Meanwhile, a Freedom of Information request to West Yorkshire Police revealed the scale of assaults on police officers over the last year. 

Between March 23 last year and May 31 this year, there were 3,001 assaults on police officers and staff whilst on duty, equating to nearly seven per day and 214 per month. In that period, nearly 340 working days were lost following an officer being assaulted on duty. 

West Yorkshire Police said its staff are encouraged to report all assaults and violence against them and highlighted “completely unacceptable” cases during the pandemic where individuals who claimed to be infected with Covid went on to cough/spit at a member of staff. A spokesperson said body worn video technology has been introduced and West Yorkshire Police “fully supports” the Protect the Protectors campaign and new legislation that makes it a specific offence to assault an emergency service worker.