News Road-rage threat to officer
A man threatened to run over a woman police constable in his van after she stopped him for allegedly driving while using a mobile phone.
Justin Claybourn made the threat after launching a blistering verbal assault on WPC Kayleigh Thompson.
Mr Claybourn erupted after WPC Thompson asked him to get out of his van, which he refused to do.
His obstinacy resulted in police reinforcements being called out and one police constable having to smash one of the windows on Mr Claybourn's Ford Transit to get him out.
Mr Claybourn (38) appeared before Goole magistrates this week, where he admitted obstructing a police constable and a Section 4 public order offence.
A charge of driving without due care and attention was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after Mr Claybourn strenuously denied using his mobile phone while at the wheel.
The incident happened on the afternoon of March 14 this year, when Mr Claybourn was stopped by WPC Thompson on the A614 near Howden. WPC Thompson thought she had seen Mr Claybourn using his mobile while at the wheel and pulled him over onto a lay-by near the Howden Spur roundabout.
Julie Laverack-Glanville, prosecuting, said when WPC Thompson asked Mr Claybourn to get into her police vehicle Mr Claybourn replied: 'Why? What have I done?'
WPC Thompson explained to him that she had just seen him using a mobile phone at the wheel but Mr Clayborn said he did not have a mobile.
The officer again asked Mr Claybourn to get into her car and Mr Claybourn walked over to the vehicle, only to say "No, I'm not - you'll have to arrest me," before walking back to his van and getting in the driver's seat. WPC Thompson went back to Mr Clayborn's van and told him that if he just gave her his details "we can sort this out".
But he shouted back: "I know my rights; this is a motoring offence, you can't arrest me for it. Now move out of my way because I'm busy."
WPC Thompson, who was standing between her vehicle and Mr Claybourn's, refused to move and told Mr Claybourn to turn his engine off.
But Mr Claybourn said: "Get out of my way or I'll run you over."
The Transit van, which was in gear, then began to move forward "at a quick speed".
WPC Thompson, who later claimed she was standing just a few inches from Mr Clayborn's van, is said to have jumped back a few paces and slammed the palm of her hand on the bonnet as the vehicle moved forward.
She then shouted to Mr Claybourn to turn his engine off and get out of the van.
WPC Thompson later said in a statement: "I feared for my personal safety and genuinely thought he would run me over."
The officer made an emergency assistance call before attempting to open Mr Claybourn's van door, only for him to slam it shut and then lock it when she had opened it about five inches, said Mrs Laverack-Glanville.
He then wound up his window, telling the police officer: "I know the law, you can't f***ing arrest me. We'll go to court and we'll see who wins. You haven't got a chance on your own. You just try and arrest me; I know my rights."
WPC Thompson replied: "I know the law, too. I'm trying to do my job, so get out of the van."
But Mr Claybourn would still not budge. Pressing his face up to the car window, he shouted at WPC Thompson: "You don't know how to do your f***ing job, love. Now move out of the way or I will run you over."
Mr Claybourn then moved his van forward again as WPC Thompson stood to the side.
The officer then shouted: "I'm not telling you again! Give me the keys and get out."
At this point reinforcements arrived and officers ordered Mr Claybourn out of his van.
But he barked: "This is a f***ing waste of time; it's a f***ing joke."
WPC Thompson gave him a verbal public-order-offence warning, but Mr Claybourn simply launched another volley of expletives.
According to the prosecution, a Pc Lonsdale then warned Mr Claybourn that he would have to smash his van window if he did not get out of the vehicle, to which Mr Clayborn replied: "Well, put my window in."
Pc Lonsdale then smashed the passenger-side window.
As soon as the window was shattered, Mr Claybourn opened the driver's door and the officers removed him forcibly from the seat.
Mr Claybourn had to be restrained before being taken to Beverley Police Station for questioning.
But, after nine minutes of questioning by police, Mr Claybourn walked out of the room and refused to answer any further questions.
Heating engineer Mr Claybourn, of High Street in Eastrington, remained unrepentant in court.
During an adjournment for reports he was asked by his probation officer if he would be prepared to carry out unpaid work, and said: "What? For swearing at a copper?"
He told probation officer Louise Jubb that he would rather pay a £2,000 fine.
When Miss Jubb asked him if he had any remorse, he said "No.".
Published on 27th March 2008 in News.
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