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Canterbury man jailed after police chase along Thanet Way following Whitstable assaults
15:35, 15 December 2020
updated: 16:27, 15 December 2020
Video shows the dramatic moment a "violent bully" was brought to a stop while he tried to escape police by driving dangerously along the Thanet Way.
Connor Harrison, from Canterbury, was wanted for arrest after carrying out a string of offences in Whitstable on September 9, including assaults against two women and a child.
The dramatic moment Connor Harrison's car was brought to a stop. Video: Kent Police
As he fled along the A299 Thanet Way, police had to use a tactical stop against his car as he tried to do a U-turn at speed with two deflated tyres.
The 25-year-old, who was already the subject of a suspended sentence for controlling and coercive behaviour, had threatened and assaulted a woman known to him as well as members of her family.
But despite the sentence, he stood outside a property where the woman was staying and rang her repeatedly.
He then used concrete blocks to damage her car and a window of the property. The glass window shattered over a child who was in the room at the time.
Harrison then threw stones at a second woman, who tried to intervene.
He left the scene and was later pursued by police along the Thanet Way.
Due to the dangerous nature of his driving which included travelling on two deflating tyres that had been punctured when police deployed a stinger, and the need to protect the public, specially-trained officers used tactical contact to bring his car to a controlled stop.
When his car was stopped, he kicked, spat at and verbally abused officers.
Harrison, of Shalmsford Street, Canterbury, admitted dangerous driving, harassment, four counts of assault, including one against an emergency services worker, two counts of criminal damage and driving while disqualified.
He was sentenced to three years in prison, at Canterbury Crown Court last Wednesday.
Det Insp Andy Bidmead said: "Connor Harrison is a violent bully.
"He thought he could intimidate women and cause damage to other people’s belongings, without any repercussions. He showed absolutely no respect to the law or other road users when he drove dangerously to evade arrest.
"It is not acceptable for anyone to be on the receiving end of this type of abuse and our officers will support any victims who find themselves facing a similar situation."
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