A VIOLENT offender wanted on recall to prison is back behind bars after ramming a police car and driving dangerously as officers moved in to arrest him.

Ricky Patmore, 30, was wanted on recall to prison when he was spotted by Dog Unit officer PC Martin Swain in South Ockendon on 14 June.

Patmore had previously been jailed in 2022 for robbery and aggravated burglary offences.

PC Swain was on patrol when he spotted a grey MG linked to Patmore and saw it turn into a driveway.

The officer stopped behind the MG and got out of his vehicle to speak to the driver.

But before he could reach him, Patmore suddenly reversed the MG towards the officer, striking the police vehicle and causing substantial damage.

PC Swain was forced to take cover before moving to the passenger side of the MG and smashing a window, allowing him to identify Patmore as the driver.

Patmore then drove across a front garden and made off at speed.

The MG was later found abandoned in nearby farmland by another Essex Police Dog Unit officer.

Efforts to find Patmore continued, with officers from our Grays Local Policing Team and Dog Unit ultimately tracing him to Colchester.

He was found sitting in the driver's seat of a parked Ford Kuga and officers moved in to arrest him.

Despite being ordered to stop, Patmore again drove dangerously as officers attempted to detain him.

As one officer reached through the vehicle's window in an attempt to remove the keys, Patmore reversed, pulling the officer with the vehicle before striking a lamppost.

Officers smashed the vehicle's window and discharged a Taser before pulling Patmore from the Ford and arresting him.

Patmore admitted two charges of dangerous driving, assault of an emergency worker and driving without a licence or insurance.

At Southend Crown Court on Friday, 9 October, he was recalled to prison and sentenced to a further 21 months.

He was banned from driving for two years and nine months.

Sergeant Mason Doyle, who led the efforts to locate Patmore, said:

"Patmore knew he was wanted and, on two separate occasions, demonstrated just how dangerously he was prepared to drive while officers were attempting to arrest him.

"That did not deter us. Our officers continued working to establish where he was until we were able to track him down and put him back in custody.

"This was a determined team effort involving colleagues across Essex Police, and a violent offender is now back behind bars where he belongs.

"Anyone who thinks they can evade arrest by driving dangerously should be in no doubt that we will continue working to find them and bring them into custody."