Brent police officers watch in wheelchairs as drunk driver who smashed into them is jailed

Two seriously injured Brent police officers attended court in wheelchairs to watch the drunk driver who smashed into them jailed.

Mohammed Shaikh, 48, ploughed into PC Christopher Appleton and PC Samantha Clark in his Maserati before crashing into a house on the A406 in Neasden while under the influence of alcohol on December 17.

Married father of two Pc Appleton suffered internal bleeding and had to have part of his pancreas removed.

He suffered fractures to hislegs, pelvis and ribs which have left him unable to help care for his two young sons.

His wife was four months pregnant at the time of the incident and was told he could die when he was first admitted to hospital.

The two officers watched from wheelchairs as Shaikh was jailed for three years and four months at Harrow Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard how the police officers were returning to their own parked car on the A406 near Brent Park at 3.40am when Shaikh came round a bend and lost control of his car.

Pc Appleton was left unconscious on the ground while Pc Clark was trapped between the car and a house. Both suffered critical injuries

Shaikh had been at a party in Windsor when he got behind the wheel to drive home with his wife in the passenger seat. He seemed intoxicated when officers spoke to him at the scene, refused to do a breathalyser test and gave them a fake name and address.

The defendant, of Amberden Avenue, Finchley, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

He has previous convictions for drink-driving, perverting the course of justice, fraud and forging a car insurance document.

He had also completed a driving ban and awareness course four months before the crash for a previous drink-driving offence.

Judge Rosa Dean told him he had “clearly learned nothing” when he got behind the wheel after at least four glasses of wine.

Supt Andy McNaughton, acting borough commander for Brent, said: “The sentence handed down reflects the severity of the collision and the injury caused.

“Shaikh’s dangerous driving led to a collision with two of my officers who sustained serious injuries. Were it not for the actions of their colleagues at the scene, their injuries may well have proved fatal.

“Sam and Chris are exceptional officers who have demonstrated extraordinary courage. They have had extensive surgery and are on a long and painful rehabilitation programme.”

Shaikh was also banned from driving for six-and-a-half years and ordered to pay £1,300 compensation to the resident of the damaged house.