A police officer was left injured after a lorry was driven at him during an argument over Operation Stack.

Angry HGV driver Edward Laing, 64, arrived at Dover’s Port trying to jump the queue...and was ordered back to the M20.

But when a PC tried to stop Laing's truck it was driven at him, forcing him to jump aside.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor told Canterbury Crown Court how at 11pm on July 25 last year, during the police traffic controls in the town, Laing was stopped at the roundabout near the port.

“He did not have a ticket which would have given him access to the port. Laing became aggressive, obstructive and began swearing.

“He was told there was no opportunity of him entering the port unless he returned to the M20, complied with Operation Stack requirements and waited in the queue.”

As an officer went to speak with him again, the vehicle jumped towards the officer causing him to jump out of the way.

It was then that PC Peter Erikson was alerted after hearing Laing’s truck “revving up” and turned around “only to see the vehicle moving towards him.”

Mr Taylor added: “PC Erikson stood in the road with his hand held up indicating for the vehicle to stop. It didn’t, so he jumped back to avoid being hit. His hand did hit the wing mirror.

“The vehicle did come to an abrupt stop and the mirror fell off and he was told he was being arrested for dangerous driving.”

As the officer tried to arrest him, Laing slammed the door shut several times, causing bruising and minor cuts to PC Erikson, who still managed to grab the ignition key after hanging on for a short distance.

Laing, from Norwich, pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm on July 25 by ‘wanton or furious’ driving but avoided an immediate jail sentence.. and a driving ban!

He pleaded guilty to the charge after asking the judge for an indication of the possible maximum sentence.

Danny Moore, defending, said Laing lost his temper after spending five-and-a-half hours in the queue before discovering he didn’t have the right documents.

“He is very apologetic for the injury he caused.”

"You are a hard-working man but your behaviour that day was absolutely unacceptable" - Judge Adele Williams

Judge Adele Williams told him that people who cause injuries to police officers doing their duty “almost always” go straight to prison.

But she suspended the 12-month jail sentence for two years and gave him six penalty points after saying there were “exceptional circumstances”.

She told him: “You are a hard-working man but your behaviour that day was absolutely unacceptable.

“There were many people that day who were seriously inconvenienced during Operation Stack but not all of them tried to take the law into their own hands.”

The judge said he had jeopardised his livelihood and liberty by his disgraceful behaviour.

Laing was also fined £500 and ordered to pay another £500 in prosecution costs.