In the early hours of 17 September 2020, three officers were on patrol when they spotted a Ford Kuga parked in Common Road, Blue Bell Hill. The officers stopped and spoke to the driver, Eglant Llleshi, and a woman in the passenger seat. Suspecting the pair to be in possession of controlled drugs, they were detained for a search and the passenger was escorted from the vehicle.

Lleshi became uncooperative and suddenly started his car and reversed into one of the officers. A second constable who had been standing next to the vehicle was also injured as she tried to restrain Lleshi through an open door. Lleshi ran over the first officer a second time, before driving in a dangerous manner from the scene.

Further patrols attended and the Ford was located unattended around two miles away. In the footwell, officers recovered packets of cocaine inside a plastic container. These were later analysed and found to have a value of between £1,000 and £2,000. Investigators were later able to prove Lleshi had been involved in drug supply. An investigation was commenced and detectives found that Lleshi has left the United Kingdom shortly after the incident. A European Arrest Warrant was issued and Lleshi was arrested in Italy on 5 April 2023 and extradited.

Lleshi, of Corso Marconi, Cairo Montenotte, Italy was charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. On Wednesday 22 November, the 28-year-old was sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment. He will also be disqualified from driving for 25 months on his release.

Detective Constable Alex Peacock, of the Kent Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: ‘This was an appalling incident and it is only by chance that we are not dealing with a fatality. Lleshi showed total disregard for the safety of the officers he struck with his car, thinking only of evading justice.

‘He fled the country while the two constables received medical attention for their injuries, with one requiring ongoing treatment. Lleshi thought he had avoided arrest but he did not account for the determination of Kent Police’s investigators to track him down. He is now, quite rightly, serving a prison sentence.’