Man who drove at bar crowd jailed - BBC News

20 May 2011 Last updated at 11:47 ET

People could be seen attempting to jump clear of the car

A man who ploughed into a crowd of revellers outside a bar in Rochdale has been jailed indefinitely.

Lee Anthony Bradley, 26, drove along the pavement next to the Dali bar in a stolen Saab 93 in the early hours of 17 October, after being thrown out.

He knocked down bystanders "like skittles", police have said. Fourteen people were taken to hospital.

Bradley, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a string of offences at an earlier hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

He admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of section 20 assault, 10 other assaults, aggravated taking of a motor vehicle without consent and dangerous driving.

He also asked the judge to take into consideration eight other offences.

'Fearsome weapon'

Bradley, who was convicted of manslaughter when he was 16, was told by Judge William Morris that he was danger to the public and must be jailed until it is safe to release him.

He was also banned from driving for life.

The court heard it was a "miracle" no-one was killed.

Bradley, who handed himself in to police on 2 November 2010, was given an indeterminate sentence and told that he must serve a minimum of six years before he can apply for parole.

Passing sentence, Judge Morris said: "You were deliberately using this motor vehicle as a weapon, a fearsome weapon.

"So many were injured by what you did, it is a truly exceptional feature of this case.

"As for their injuries, any one of them could have been so much worse, one or more of them could so easily have been killed."

Speaking after the sentence, senior investigating officer Andy Tattersall of Greater Manchester Police said: "Bradley is a violent and dangerous individual who probably felt a certain amount of humiliation and anger at being asked to leave the club.

"It is a reflection of his character that he chose to deal with that by driving a car at door staff and along a crowded pavement where dozens of people were enjoying a night out."