'Obsessed' mother of seven ran down ex-lover and policeman
A spurned mother of seven ran down her married ex-lover and a policeman after the relationship hit the rocks, a judge heard.
Annette Perks crashed into the pair as she accelerated, with wheels spinning, from a standing start in the car park at Brunswick Park, Wednesbury.
Pc Adam Bradley suffered a fractured bone in his right hand while her former sweetheart Andrew Howell – who was struck by the front off side corner of Vauxhall Astra – escaped with a cut left elbow, said Mr Ian Ball, prosecuting.
The officer said: "I heard the loud sound of a car engine and saw it hurtling towards us. We did not have time to get out of the way."
Mr Howell had been bombarded with calls from the defendant after ending their relationship early last year and a restraining order was imposed on her on September 8, banning any contact with him for six months – but the calls started again on November 3, said Mr Ball.
Mr Howell complained to police and told them Perks, 44, had been back in touch pleading to meet, the court heard. The officer was sent to check if she broke the terms of the restraining order.
Mr Howell spoke to her before going to talk to Pc Bradley. The defendant drove at them shortly afterwards. Perks then fled to North Wales where she was arrested five days later.
Mr Richard Davenport, defending, said: "She became obsessed with this man who had promised to run off with her to Spain but chose to remain with his wife."
The defendant's marriage to another man had ended and she was left with seven children aged between 14 and 26, the court was told.
Perkins of Lister Road, Beechdale, Walsall pleaded guilty to two assaults, dangerous driving and breaching a restraining order. She was jailed for 17 months.
