Pedestrian hit by police car suffers broken foot - and £80 penalty for 'denting' vehicle

After suffering a broken foot in the collision, however, Daniel Horne thought all the damage had been done.

Until he received an £80 fine - for denting the vehicle.

Yesterday the 28-year-old businessman told of his shock at being penalised for being hit by the marked car.

Mr Horne had been walking home in June when the marked police car mounted the pavement and crushed his foot under the wheel.

An apologetic officer then took him to hospital where he spent three hours being treated for his damaged foot.

Mr Horne, who runs his own courier firm, was injured on his way home from a night out with friends.

A flat tyre meant he and his friends were forced to pull over and leave the vehicle's warning lights flashing as they walked along a quiet village road seeking assistance.

Mr Horne recalled: "Apparently somebody saw us and thought we were dumping the car and they rang the police.

"I was just walking along the pavement and heard the police car siren coming behind us.

"The next thing I knew was that the police car came onto the pavement to stop us.

"The car hit my right leg and I fell over - with my foot being crushed under the front wheel of the patrol car.

"It was agony and my foot was in a hell of a state. We explained to the police that we were innocent and they quickly found out we were telling the truth."

The police driver took Daniel to hospital for treatment to his foot after the accident at Beddau, near Pontypridd, South Wales and waited with him.

"The copper was very helpful and was there with me for about three hours while the doctors examined me," Mr Horne said.

"My metatarsal was completely crushed and I was put in a cast.

"He gave me a lift back but then told me: 'Sorry but I've got to do this to cover myself.'

"I was amazed when he issued me with the £80 fixed penalty notice.

"I was speechless when he wrote out that I ran into a police vehicle causing a dent.

"It is just crazy. I was just innocently walking down the road when the car swerved in front of me to arrest us in a complete mistake.

"I just can't believe that anyone would honestly think that you would run into a police car."

The fine ticket reads: "You ran into the n/s [near side] front wing of a marked police vehicle causing a dent."

Mr Horne, of Llanharry, South Wales, added: "It is a complete joke - who the hell would run into a police car made out of solid metal?

"I was in agony with my foot broken in bits and I end up being fined for my body damaging the police car.

"The doctors told me my foot is still in a terrible state. I will have a special A-cast on for another six weeks."

He has been unable to work since the accident - and is planning to sue police over his injury.

Daniel said: "There is no way I'm going to pay the fixed penalty fine. I've spoken to my solicitor and I'm going to fight it all the way."

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "A fixed penalty was issued for criminal damage.

"We have received a complaint from Mr Horne and are looking into it."