A man an who drunkenly rammed into a police car then violently attacked two British Transport Police (BTP) officers has been locked up for over two and a half years.

Saddam Fareed, 28, and of Sprowston Road, East London, pleaded guilty to driving over the prescribed limit, dangerous driving, assault on a police officer, actual bodily harm and criminal damage at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 14 March. 

He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.

On 12 May 2018 in the early hours of the morning, a BTP Inspector and Special Constable were on patrol in Leyton, East London, when they noticed a car driving recklessly. 

They pursued the vehicle down a dead end before it came to a stop in front of them. 

Fareed then slammed the vehicle into reverse and ploughed into the police car behind him. 

Inspector Tanner lent into Fareed’s open window to try and restrain him, but was dragged into the car before being punched numerous times by Fareed.

At this point he had crashed into eight other cars on the street trying to drive away, hitting the Special Constable in the process and hospitalising him for five days.

The car finally came to a stop and Fareed punched Inspector Tanner multiple times as he tried to handcuff him. 

Further BTP units quickly arrived on scene and manage to arrest Fareed, who blew positive on a breathalyser. 

Safeer Ahmed, 22, and of Shrewsbury Road, East London, gave a false statement to police saying he was the driver and Fareed was the passenger. He was convicted of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to four months in prison. 

Inspector Tanner said: “There is no excuse for drink driving, or for this level of mindless and dangerous violence. In his drunken state Fareed posed a very considerable risk to the public.

“He failed to pull over for police officers and made a determined and dangerous attempt to escape, with absolutely no regard for the destruction or injuries caused in the process.

“I am pleased to see the court impose a significant sentence due to the high value of damage and the serious injury to one of our Special Constables.”