Two sentenced after police officer run over in Chorleywood

Two men were sentenced on January 6 at St Albans Crown Court after stealing a vehicle from an address in Berkhamsted and using it to run over a police officer in Chorleywood. The incident began on July 10, 2014 on the M25 when a vehicle, a grey Audi RS6, was seen driving at around 100mph on the hard shoulder. PC David Oram and PC Stuart Fraser, who are both based with the specialist Operation Scorpion team who proactively tackle car crime and burglaries, attended the area to locate the vehicle. It was subsequently found in Chorleywood and as the officers tried to contain the car it was driven at them by Eugene Gunderman. PC Oram, who was out of the vehicle, was knocked to the ground and run over and suffered serious injuries. The second offender Damon Denham, who had got out of the Audi just prior to the officers arrival, was also knocked over before getting back in to the car. The Audi, which had been stolen earlier that day from an address in Upper Hall Park in Berkhamsted, was then driven off at speed. Gunderman then attempted to steal a Porsche to make a getaway before both got back into the Audi. The car then collided with a number of other vehicles including a police car and subsequently Gunderman and Denham were arrested. 28-year-old Eugene Gunderman of Queens Close in Old Windsor, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to stealing the Audi, attempted robbery, ABH and dangerous driving. He was sentenced to four years and ten in prison in total and was also disqualified from driving for five years. Denham, 27, and from Kingbury Drive in Old Windsor, was given nine months in prison for the theft of the Audi. The sentences are to run consecutively with convictions for conspiracy to rob which both received in August this year at Guildford Crown Court for separate matters. Chief Superintendent Bill Jephson said: “PC’s Oram and Fraser responded to this incident as part of their routine work and had no idea that they would be faced which such serious consequences. “Yet, despite being driven at and PC Oram suffering significant injuries, the two officers still gave chase. This proves how dedicated our officers are in facing life threatening situations in order to prevent crime and protect the public and their bravery should be commended. I would like to thank them and our colleagues across the county who go above and beyond the call of duty every day.”