Wanted man jailed for running over police officer during 'escape' attempt

Wade Burns (left) welcomed the penalty imposed by the court for the offending which injured Senior Constable Liam Bennett (right). (ABC News: Eva Blandis)

A man who ran over a police officer at Tailem Bend on Christmas Eve in 2024 has been jailed for eight years.

Daniel Henry Crutchfield was on the run from authorities in Victoria when he mowed down Senior Constable Liam Bennett, leaving the officer with serious injuries.

SA's Police Association says the sentence, which means Crutchfield will be eligible to apply for parole in June 2030, reflects community expectations.

South Australia's Police Association has welcomed an eight-year jail term imposed on a meth-fuelled man who mowed down and seriously injured a police officer on Christmas Eve 2024.

Daniel Henry Crutchfield, 32, was jailed after previously pleading guilty in SA's District Court to an aggravated charge of endangering life and several other offences including serious criminal trespass and possessing a restricted firearm.

Crutchfield was on the run from police in Victoria when he ran over Senior Constable Liam Bennett at a service station in Tailem Bend, south-east of Adelaide, leaving him with serious injuries including a "permanent disfigurement" to his leg.

In sentencing, Judge Emily Telfer said Crutchfield came to the attention of police earlier that day after he stole guns from a rural property.

Daniel Henry Crutchfield was sentenced in South Australia's District Court. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

She said Senior Constable Bennett had deployed oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, also known as pepper spray, on Crutchfield before he got into his car and ran him over.

"You started the car and you revved it loudly. You suddenly and quickly reversed, colliding into the police utility vehicle parked behind you," she said.

"You accelerated hard and sped forward, turning the vehicle to where officer Bennett was standing.

Judge Telfer said Crutchfield had told the court he was "attempting to escape" and that his "eyesight was impaired by the effects of the OC spray".

"It was daylight and there could've been no confusion about the fact that there were numerous police officers in your immediate vicinity," Judge Telfer said.

Judge Emily Telfer says the injured officer lives with a permanent disfigurement. (ABC News)

Judge Telfer said Senior Constable Bennett sustained multiple injuries including a permanent disfigurement to his leg, a fractured middle finger, bruising to the bones in both legs and a ligament tear in his foot.

"Officer Bennett now lives with a permanent disfigurement to his lo