'Erratic' motorist who tried to run over police officer

Tre Freeman was also driving without insurance when the offence occurred at Fox Covert Cemetery in Appleton.

The 19-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown last Thursday, August 5, after pleading guilty to two indictments including affray and dangerous driving.

On Friday, August 6, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison after being described as a ‘very immature’ man.

Prosecuting, Suzanne Payne explained how on October 31, last year two police officers were patrolling the Hill Cliffe cemetery in a transit van when they drove past a parked Vaxuhall Astra which the defendant was in.

Noticing the defendant looked considerably young to be driving, one of the police officers approached the car to carry out a regular vehicle check.

As the police officer approached the vehicle, it started to edge forward and she used her arm to tell it to stop whilst also shouting ‘stop’.

Freeman, formerly of Green Leach Court, St Helens, then jolted the car forward which brushed the police officer’s leg resulting in her slamming her hand on the car and again shouting loudly telling him to stop.

Freeman was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Ms Payne told the court how he jolted the vehicle forward again causing the officer to jump out of the way.

The vehicle then drove ‘erratically’ to the top of the lane and began revving loudly and accelerating towards the police officer causing her to draw her baton as she feared for her safety.

Freeman accelerated at the officer multiple times causing her to jump out of the way and even press her emergency button.

The court was shown bodycam footage from the officer which showed how she was forced to jump away and can also be heard shouting: “I’ve had to escape, he is trying to knock me over.”

Freeman then drove off, colliding with multiple cars and hitting the cemetery wall with such force that it was knocked down.

The car was then found abandoned on a nearby road and the defendant’s DNA was identified and telecommunications from his mobile phone also matched up.

Ms Payne read out a victim statement form the police officer in which she revealed she has needed counselling after the incident to help her cope.

The police officer said she can’t forget how the driver and passenger’s faces were ‘expressionless’ which made her feel ‘invisible’ and ‘unnerved’.

Ms Payne also told the court about the second incident which happened on Calgarth Avenue, Bewsey, at Freeman’s mum’s address.

At around 12.30pm, neighbours heard shouting and screaming and saw a man stood outside the property with a crowbar, shouting at the defendant.

They also saw Freeman with a large knife and two cars were parked outside – one included children who were visibly upset and screaming.

A female was also there and said: ‘‘If you bring sh*t to mine, I bring it to you.’’

Ms Payne explained how the defendant claimed the man had hit him so he edged towards him with the knife to make him feel afraid.

Neighbours called 999 and Freeman was arrested.

In a police interview, Freeman revealed that he was in debt for a motorbike which he owed £90 for and hadn’t left his house for three weeks due to fear.

He claimed he was so scared that his younger siblings had moved out of the property, and he claimed he slept with a meat cleaver near his bed.

He apologised to his neighbours for the fear and upset the offence caused.

Ms Payne concluded that the aggravating factors of both indictments were that one was against an emergency worker, the fact young children were present who were clearly upset, and the Freeman’s previous convictions.

Defending, Sarah Griffin told the court how Freeman has ADHD and has recently been given anti-depressants in custody.

She said: ‘‘The pre-sentence report shows he has faced significant difficulties in his young life so far.

‘‘He didn’t take the car to the scene with the intent to cause injury.’’

Ms Griffin also described Freeman as ‘extremely immature young man’.

She asked the court to consider the affect the pandemic has had on someone who suffers from mental health issues and stated the victim has had previous head injuries and language difficulties.

Ms Griffin said Freeman is now ‘finally accepting medical support’ which is a ‘stark contrast’ to self-medicating with cannabis and rejecting medical help.

He was sentenced to 40 months in prison and was disqualified from driving for 43 months with an extension period of 20 months.