Chief Constable commends Roads Policing officers after unprovoked attack – M40

Five Thames Valley Police officers have received awards from the Chief Constable for exhibiting exceptional performance in supporting the force after an unprovoked attack on the side of the M40.

On 20 August 2020, PCs Martin Woodford and Phil Duthie, from the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, attempted to stop a Renault Clio between junctions eight and nine of the M40 in Oxfordshire as it had been observed being driven at excessive speed.

When they brought the vehicle to a halt, an altercation ensued between the driver, Morgan Culshaw, and the two officers on the side of the M40, which was busy with traffic.

PC Woodford was punched and stamped on, being rendered temporarily unconscious, while PC Duthie was punched to the head and bitten.

During the incident, Culshaw also stole PC Woodford’s incapacitant sprays and sprayed him with it.

Following the altercation, Culshaw drove off from the scene and other police units attended the area. PC Mark Sanders and Special Constable Craig Livingstone sighted the vehicle containing Culshaw travelling on the M40.

Culshaw failed to stop for the officers and appeared to slow down, with the intention of turning the wrong way on the motorway.

PC Sanders, fearing the vehicle would travel against the flow of traffic, made contact with the Renault Clio in an attempt to stop the car.

Unfortunately, Culshaw was able to turn and drive the wrong way down the hard shoulder in an attempt to evade arrest.

This was extremely dangerous and put members of the public at significant risk. PC Sanders made the decision to follow the Renault Clio to warn other motorists.

Chief Inspector Euan Livingstone was off duty in his own car travelling on the M40 Motorway. He saw the events unfold and made the decision to drive onto the hard shoulder at risk to himself to try and prevent the Renault Clio from travelling the wrong way down the motorway.

Culshaw later crashed into a ditch and fled on foot, before he was finally arrested by armed officers near to the scene.

Culshaw, aged 28, of Pennywell Drive, Oxford, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, theft and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at Oxford Crown Court on 19 August 2021 after a trial.

PC Woodford said: “This was a traumatic and painful event so to receive this helps and puts closure on the incident for me.”

Chief Inspector Chris Spellerberg, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “This was an appalling, violent and unprovoked assault on our officers, who were patrolling the motorway network, keeping our roads safe.

“Culshaw put our officers and other road users in serious danger, driving the wrong way down the motorway, making every effort to evade police, stealing police captor spray and inflicting serious assaults on both PCs Duthie and Woodford.

“Our officers genuinely feared for their lives as they attempted to restrain Culshaw on the side of a busy live running motorway.

“Police officers go to work to serve our communities, and should expect to return home to their families safe and uninjured.  Nothing can ever justify the violence that Culshaw inflicted on PCs Woodford and Duthie that day.

“I am really pleased that they were both able to return to work and to continue to serve our communities after such a horrific ordeal.

“I would like to thank the investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service for their work in helping us to bring Culshaw to justice and to colleagues who provided support on the night and in the subsequent days.

“The sentence of six years’ imprisonment highlights how seriously the trial judge took these offences, and Culshaw will now have a considerable time to reflect on his violent actions.”

AP

Ch Insp Euan Livingstone, PC Mark Sanders, PC Phil Duthie, PC Martin Woodford and SC Craig Livingstone

Notes to editors:

PC Phil Duthie, PC Martin Woodford, SC Craig Livingstone and Ch Insp Euan Livingstone are available for interview. To request, please contact [email protected]