Nurse in court accused of police hit-and-run in Grays

Abiola Akilla, 45, allegedly ran over the officer after she pulled over her vehicle at a checkpoint to ask if she had a licence and was insured.

The officer was airlifted to hospital following the incident near Grays, on October 31.

Magistrates were told she has suffered five broken ribs, including some which are shattered, as well as leg and arm injuries plus cuts and bruises near her head.

The court heard Akilla was initially pulled over for allegedly travelling at 51mph in a 40mph zone.

Magistrates were told the officer left a speed camera on the roof of Akilla’s vehicle and tried to grab it when the defendant drove away.

During the incident, the court heard the officer was badly injured.

An air ambulance landed in a field near the A1013 and, after she received treatment at the scene, she was airlifted to hospital.

NHS cancer nurse Akilla, who was arrested at her home in Chadwell St Mary, later the same day, appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court yesterday.

She was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

Akilla was released on conditional bail until a hearing at Basildon Crown Court later this month.

As a condition of her release she will have to stay living at her current address and report twice a week to Grays police station.

The incident, shortly before 8am on Saturday, October 31, saw an officer taken to hospital with serious injuries after she was hit by a car on Stanford Road, Grays.

Police were alerted to reports that an officer had sustained serious injuries.

It was reported that the driver then stopped and the officer approached the vehicle on foot.

The car was said to then hit the officer, before driving off.

The officer was taken to hospital by air ambulance with injuries that are considered to be serious, but not life changing.