Man accused of running down PC at illegal rave goes free (From This Is Wiltshire)

Man accused of running down PC at illegal rave goes free

3:03pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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Wiltshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will hold a meeting after the trial of a man accused of running a police officer down at an illegal rave near Warminster collapsed earlier today.

Charges of dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm with intent against Christian Bell, 19, were dropped by the CPS at Swindon Crown Court, on what was supposed to be the first day of his trial.

Mr Bell, of Yeovil Road, Farnborough, was accused of running down Warminster police officer Phil Bridge, who was manning a roadblock on the B390 near Quebec Farm, between the villages of Knook and Chitterne, in the early hours of August 30 last year.

The trial collapsed after the CPS said they could not rely on the evidence of their sole witness, Benjamin Marrett, who said Mr Bell was the driver of the Renault Clio which hit PC Bridge, leaving him with a fractured ankle.

Wiltshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said after the trial: "Today the case against Christian Bell has been dismissed and we will be liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service to assess whether any further action is appropriate.

“We are continuing to provide full support to the officer who suffered serious injury in the incident that led to the charge against Christian Bell."

PC Phil Bridge is now back at work on light duties.

At court, Claire Marlow, prosecuting, said their witness Mr Marrett was in custody on remand accused of being involved in an aggravated burglary in Hampshire.

He is accused of being with another man, who is said to have been armed with a knife, when they allegedly committed a burglary.

She said he also had a previous conviction for perverting the course of justice, where he tried to bribe a witness in another case.

“The Crown takes the view it is not a witness who can be put forward as a witness of truth,” Miss Marlow told the court.

Judge Douglas Field said: “This is a serious allegation and whatever happened on that night, a police officer was injured.

“You are an experienced crown prosecutor and I have no doubt you have come to this conclusion with some reluctance.”

He passed formal not guilty verdicts on the two charges Mr Bell faced and said his travel costs would be paid from central funds.

PC Bridge was one of several officers called to deal with the illegal rave, which had attracted 4,000 revellers.

As he manned a roadblock and tried to stop a car from leaving, the driver rammed into him, throwing him onto the bonnet of the car and accelerating off with the policeman still on the car.

He fell off the bonnet and then the car ran over his ankle, fracturing it. He needed treatment at Salisbury District Hospital.