A man, who almost killed a policeman when he ran him down with a stolen BMW in Brisbane, will spend at least eight years behind bars.

June 5, 2020

A Queensland man has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for running down and almost killing a policeman with a stolen BMW while high on drugs.

Craig Aland Townshend, 36, pleaded guilty to a malicious act with intent after he deliberately drove the red car at Senior Constable Aaron Izzard, 34.

“You mowed the officer down. It was both cowardly and callous,” Judge Leanne Clare told the Brisbane District Court on Friday.

“The car was your weapon.”

“You deliberately forced the vehicle onto flesh and bone,” she said.

Sen Const Izzard had been attempting to hail down Townshend in the Brisbane suburb of Chermside in September 2018 when he was struck.

Instead of stopping, Townshend accelerated at the officer and hit him with the centre of the car’s front bumper.

The impact threw Sen Const Izzard onto the bonnet with such force the windscreen shattered.

The officer was then flung onto the roof of the car as Townshend continued to speed from the scene at about 60km/h.

Sen Const Izzard lost his grip after 30 metres and thrown to the road when Townshend deliberately swerved.

A dash-cam video played to the court showed him lying motionless after the incident.

“The impact broke Officer Izzard’s protective gear and his gun. It also shattered his body,” Judge Clare said.

“You left Sen Const Izzard broken and bleeding on the footpath.”

He was taken to hospital suffering a fractured skull and eye socket, bleeding on the brain, broken teeth, a shattered eardrum, shoulder injuries, and extensive cuts and bruising.

He was also having seizures and spent 10 days in an induced coma.

Doctors fought to save his life but they were not hopeful, Judge Clare said.

They told the father-of-two’s family and colleagues to prepare for his death.

“I will never forget the sight of all the blood and the intermittent yelling and horrified screaming coming from Aaron as we treated him,” a fellow police officer, who asked not to be named, told the court in a victim impact statement.

Sen Const Izzard made a “miracle” recovery following brain surgery.

But he continues to suffer from numerous life-changing injuries, including the loss of memories such as the birth of his children.

He has also had to relearn how to walk and talk, and continues to suffer from chronic pain.

“The future is uncertain but you have already robbed him of so much,” Judge Clare told Townshend.

He fled the scene after Sen Const Izzard was thrown from the car and was later found hiding in his father’s backyard shed.

“You gave a fanciful story,” Judge Clare said.

“Any remorse expressed was belated and not very convincing.”

“It’s clear you resorted to lies to minimise your accountability,” she said.

Townshend was also convicted of unlawfully using a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol and methylamphetamine.

He will have to serve at least 80 per cent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

A man, who almost killed a policeman when he ran him down with a stolen BMW in Brisbane, will spend at least eight years behind bars.

June 8, 2020