Man assaulted partner before ramming police car

A man who attacked his wife before ramming a police car in a desperate bid to get away has been jailed. 

Nicholas Hazell, 42, assaulted the victim before pulling her into a car in Trumpington Road, Cambridge, at about 9.10pm on 5 September. 

Police had been called about the assault and tried to stop the car, but Hazell ignored them and drove to King’s Parade where he was blocked by barriers.

Pictured: Nicholas Hazell, 42. 

He rammed the police car behind him and turned around onto the pavement, close to pedestrians, before making off.

About an hour later, Hazell was spotted driving on the A14 by other officers who pursued him onto the M11 where he reached speeds of about 90mph.

He was eventually stopped between junctions ten and nine and arrested.

Hazell was also found to be disqualified from driving and uninsured.

On Thursday (23 October), at Huntingdon Law Courts, Hazell, of no fixed address, was jailed for 20 months, having pleaded guilty to criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving with no insurance.

Hazell also pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to five weeks in prison at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (28 October), which will be served alongside his 20-month sentence.  

He was also banned from driving for four years and ten months.

DC Michael Hitchings, who investigated, said: “Hazell put innocent people at risk by trying to avoid justice. It’s never sensible to flee from police and the sentence shows how seriously the court treated his reckless actions. The assault on his wife was also equally appalling.”