Ashfield councillor back in court charged with ramming police car after 'chase'

Coun Tom Hollis (Ash Ind) denies driving without due care and attention, in Sutton, on August 17, 2020.

Mark Fielding, prosecuting at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court, said two police officers were ‘taken aback’ by the’significantly excessive speed’ Hollis reached in his Range Rover Evoque on Outram Street, hitting speed bumps violently, at about 60mph.

The court heard they activated their blue lights and followed Hollis as he crossed mini-roundabouts ‘unsafely’, before entering the petrol forecourt of Asda, Priestsic Road.

He came to an ‘urgent stop’ and then reversed into unmarked police car.

A witness at the pumps feared Hollis's car might hit him and told the trial: “It didn’t appear to slow down.

"There was loud music coming from the vehicle. It looked like a full-blown police chase."

He said Hollis got out and was gesticulating and shouting aggressively at the officers.

Mr Fielding said Hollis struggled with the officers as they tried to grab his dash-cam, but he was not charged with obstructing police.

"I can't say what was going through his mind," he said. "He is only being charged with careless driving, not dangerous driving.

"All we know is that there is no SD card in the dash-camera. Either he has it in his possession, or threw it out of reach. I suppose we will never know."

Hollis made ‘blanket denials’ and declared it was ‘all a police conspiracy’.

Errol Ballatyne, for Hollis, district councillor for Huthwaite & Brierley and Nottinghamshire County Councilor member for Sutton West, applied for the speeds Hollis reached not to be stated in court, because they were only estimates and said the prosecution still has the dashcam.

Mr Fielding said it was ‘astonishing’ to forbid police from giving an ‘accurate calibrated assessment of the speed’.

“This is smoke and mirrors from the defence,” he told the district judge.

“They are seeking to sow a seed in your mind that evidence is being kept from you.”

The trial continues.

Earlier at the court, on September 22, Hollis, aged 29, of Yew Tree Drive, Huthwaite, was found guilty of harassment without violence, following a two-day trial.

Sentencing was adjourned until October.