Ipswich, United Kingdom – A man who reversed and crashed his vehicle while two police officers clung to the side has been sentenced to four years in jail.

On 8 November last year, Josef Zielinski, 33, of Arboretum Place, Barking, Greater London, was stopped in Sudbury over suspected drug offences. Officers had spotted a vehicle linked to the supply of drugs in the area based on public intelligence.

As PC Owen Turner opened the driver’s door, Zielinski reversed the vehicle. Turner jumped onto the side to avoid being run over, while PC Steven Coughlan was knocked over and dragged along as the car hit a stationary vehicle. Zielinski briefly turned off the vehicle, then back on, before officers finally removed and detained him.

A search revealed ten wraps of cocaine under the car, discarded during the struggle. Zielinski pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, dangerous driving, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage. His sentences, including a consecutive 1 year and 3 months for dangerous driving, total four years, along with a three-year driving ban.

PC Turner reflected on the ordeal: “What I thought would be a simple stop left me thinking that I might die and that my colleague and friend was either seriously injured or dead. What Zielinski did showed his only desire was to escape, with no regard for anyone other than himself. This is something that I will never forget.”

PC Coughlan, who was dragged by the car, added: “I was pulled along with the wheel burning through my trousers and to my knee. I had to take time off work to recover from the injuries and the pain it left me. I’m just really pleased that neither of us were more seriously injured and that we still managed to detain him.”

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