Sudbury officers say police assaults are treated as “bottom of the agenda” after drug dealer dragged them with car
They were trying to stop a vehicle linked to suspected drug activity when the driver reversed
Two Suffolk police officers who were dragged by a suspected drug dealer’s car say assaults on emergency workers are not being taken seriously enough by the courts.
PC Steve Coughlan and PC Owen Turner, from Suffolk Police’s Sudbury Community Policing Team, were trying to stop a vehicle linked to suspected drug dealing when the driver reversed at speed with both officers alongside the car.
The incident happened after officers received community intelligence about vehicles allegedly involved in drug dealing in Sudbury. PC Coughlan said the pair located the vehicle shortly after leaving Sudbury Police Station and attempted to stop it using blue lights.
"If I did let go, the only one place I probably end up in would be under the wheels"
Describing the moment the vehicle reversed, PC Coughlan said: “As I grabbed the handle and the car just started reversing back, I then lost balance and it sort of pulled me along the road whilst still clinging on to the car, really.”
He estimated the vehicle reversed at around “10, 15 mile an hour” and said he was dragged between “10, 15 metres”.
PC Coughlan said he believed letting go could have left him underneath the vehicle.
“The wheel burnt, it burnt from my trousers, it burnt, I've got burn marks on my knees, which is probably one of the reasons why I didn't let go,” he said. “If I did let go, the only one place I probably end up in would be under the wheels.”
PC Turner said he feared his colleague had been seriously injured or killed.
“I'll be honest, I thought Steve might be under the car seriously injured or dead,” he said. “It's quite a scary moment.”
He added: “The only thing that could have happened was us being seriously injured.”
The officers eventually stopped the vehicle, detained the driver and later discovered drugs, according to the interview.
PC Coughlan suffered bruised ribs and injuries to his legs, while his family were also affected by the incident.
“My kids didn't sign up to me being injured,” he said.
The driver was later sentenced after pleading guilty to offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and dangerous driving. PC Turner said the defendant received “two years, nine months for the possession of intent to supply Class A”, “one year, three months for dangerous driving” and “17 weeks for assault occasioning actual bodily harm”.
The officers said they believed the sentence relating to the assault was too lenient.
"I just don't think we've been supported by the court"
“We've been supported by the force. I just don't think we've been supported by the court,” PC Coughlan said.
He added: “I just think when it comes to sentencing and there is assault on police that it is taken more seriously by the judges.”
PC Turner said the defendant had originally faced a more serious allegation before pleading guilty to a lesser offence.
“He was initially charged for attempted Section 18 grievous bodily harm,” he said.
Despite the incident, both officers said they remain committed to policing.
“This hasn't stopped me from doing the job I love,” PC Coughlan said. “If anything, it's probably giving me more drive to get these people off our streets.”
We contacted the Crown Prosecution Service for a response.