Man jailed for mowing down revellers outside Rochdale bar

Lee Anthony Bradley

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A man who drove a stolen car along a crowded pavement hitting innocent revellers following an argument with door staff has been sentenced.

Lee Anthony Bradley, 26, of no fixed address admitted one count of attempt Section 18 Assault (causing grievous bodily harm with intent), two counts of Section 20 Assault (causing grievous bodily harm), 10 counts of Section 47 Assault (causing actual bodily harm), dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. A further eight counts of Section 47 Assault were taken into consideration.

Today, Friday 20 May 2011 at Bolton Crown Court, he was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of six years. He was also banned from driving for life.

Shortly before 2.00am on Sunday 17 October 2010, Bradley was asked to leave the Dali Bar on Packer Street, Rochdale because door staff believed him to be very drunk and under the influence of drugs.

He became abusive towards staff and was pushed over and told to go home by another off-duty member of staff.

Bradley then threatened the staff before being led away by a second man.

He got into a stolen Saab 93 and drove onto the footpath between the Flying Horse pub and Dali Bar.

Bradley stopped the car briefly before driving at the door staff.

He continued to drive the car at speed down the packed pavement and collided with a number of revellers, who were flung over the bonnet or ran over. Dozens more had to dive out of the way of the car.

The car was found abandoned on Albert Royds Street and had suffered damage to the windscreen and wing mirror.

Twenty-one people were injured and required medical treatment following the incident, including a 29-year-old man who suffered a fractured skull. He has since made a full recovery.

Following the incident Bradley went into hiding and officers searched more than 80 homes in an attempt to find him.

Following repeated media appeals he handed himself in to police on 2 November 2010.

Senior Investigating Officer Andy Tattersall, said: "To say it was fortunate that no one was more seriously injured or killed is an understatement.

"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."