Funds raised to support injured police officer - The Solihull Observer

Funds raised to support injured police officer

Solihull Editorial 19th Aug, 2019   0

ALMOST £14,000 has been raised in less than a week to support a police officer who was badly injured when he was knocked down and run over by a car.

Pc Gareth Phillips was responding to reports of a stolen car when he was knocked down in Moorcroft Road, Moseley, Birmingham, on August 10.

It is alleged former Hall Green resident Mubashar Hussain hijacked a police BMW at around 4.45pm and reversed into the officer, knocking him down, before driving over his body as he lay pinned under the vehicle.

A Just Giving page has been set up in the traffic officer’s honour to ‘support Gareth and his family through the difficult times that are to follow.’




In just five days £13,676 was raised with donations coming from fellow officers, their families and members of the public.

Pc Philips, who has served in the force for nearly 20 years, suffered head and pelvic injuries and remains in hospital.


The 42-year-old officer got to spend time with his 13-year-old chocolate labrador Diesel, who was allowed to visit the hospital to say hello and lift his spirits.

One of the first things PC Phillips asked about after regaining consciousness was how Diesel was.

Supt Dave Twyford, head of Central Motorway Police Group, said: “Gaz would like to say thank you to all the hospital staff that saved his life.

“He’s got a shattered pelvis and is in pain, but is taking each day as it comes and is making small steps in his recovery.

“Having spoken to his family and his wife, knowing that people are supporting them locally and across the globe, it makes a huge difference to Gaz and his family.

“While it’s great to see Gaz slowly improving, his thoughts and prayers, and those of everyone in the wider policing family, are with the family and friends of PC Andrew Harper of Thames Valley Police, who was killed in the line of duty last week.”

Hussain appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on August 12 charged with attempted murder, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, a separate count of dangerous driving, wounding another officer who suffered a cut arm, four counts of assaulting other PCs, driving while disqualified, motoring offences and two car thefts.

A second man, 24-year-old Ahsan Ghafoor, from Fulham Road in Sparkhill, has also been charged with the same two car thefts, plus dangerous driving and other motoring offences.

Both men were remanded to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on September 9.

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