Midleton man jailed for ramming patrol car twice

AN intoxicated man who reversed his van into a patrol car on two separate occasions while being pursued by gardaí and who swung a hammer at them has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Patrick Rolston, aged 40, of Young Grove, Midleton, Co Cork, was pursued by gardaí in a patrol car in the early hours of April 11, 2010, after he was observed to be driving in an erratic manner.

Gardaí followed Rolston from the Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, to Midleton where he was arrested at 3.30am.

Rolston reversed his van into the patrol car on two occasions, causing approximately €1,800 of damage.

“He slammed on the brakes and put the van into reverse into the patrol car,” Garda Kieran Barrett told Midleton District Court.

Rolston later got out of his vehicle brandishing a hammer, which gardaí asked him to drop.

Gardaí struck Rolston with batons after he failed to drop the hammer.

Rolston, who pleaded guilty to driving offences, said he got a beating and denied taking out the hammer, which he said was in a door pocket for fencing.

Rolston was convicted of four counts of dangerous driving.

He was also found guilty of drink driving, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon and producing the weapon.

He was also convicted of having no car insurance, no driving licence and of failure to produce both.

Judge Pattwell imposed two separate sentences and sentenced Rolston to a total of two years in prison.

He pleaded guilty in respect of the driving offences, the court heard.