Godmanchester driver reverse rammed into police car on A52
Lincolnshire Police officers were following two vans, a Ford Transit and a Vauxhall Vivaro, just before 1am on July 28, 2024, driving on the A52 at Swaton. The drivers of the vans turned off the A52 with the Ford Transit overtaking the Vivaro before speeding off. Officers got behind the Ford Transit, which was being driven by George Bamsey, in their unmarked BMW.
Bamsey suddenly braked in the middle of the road and reversed into the police car, ramming into the vehicle three times. The driver of the Vivaro then pulled up alongside the officers and prevented them from moving sideways. Officers turned on their blue lights and sirens, and the transit van then sped off through Helpringham with the officers following.
Bamsey, 26, continued to drive dangerously, veering over solid white lines, turning aggressively at speed at blind junctions, travelling over a railway bridge on the wrong side of the road, and hitting 60mph in a 30mph zone. After leaving the village, he attempted to reverse ram the officers in their car on another four occasions. His driving caused him to lose control and crash his van.
He could not get out of the driver's side door, so fled his van via the passenger door and tried to run away. He was detained an arrested in seconds, and even dropped his phone as he tried to run. Copper piping and cabling was found in the rear of the van, and officers soon identified that it had been stolen from a commercial building site in Cambridgeshire.
Keep up to date with the latest news across Huntingdonshire by signing up to our newsletter email alerts here[1] The driver injured himself during the incident and was taken to hospital for treatment. He was interviewed, but gave no account of his actions.
Bamsey, of Tudor Road, Godmanchester, pleaded guilty to failing to stop, handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, causing more than GBP10,000 worth of damage to a police car, dangerous driving, and using false registration plates. He was sentenced at Lincoln Crown court on March 21 to a prison sentence of 16 months for the driving offences and a four month prison sentence for handling stolen goods. Both of the sentences were suspended for two years.
He has also been disqualified from driving or holding a licence for 16 months.
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