MONTEGO BAY, St James — A man who pleaded guilty to running a motor car over a policeman’s feet during a traffic stop has been fined $300,000.

Jermaine Valentine appeared in the St James Parish Court before presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce last Wednesday to answer to the charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.

According to prosecutors, on March 4 police were conducting a traffic stop when they noticed Valentine driving a car with two passengers in the front passenger seat.

A cop stopped him and requested his driver’s licence, but he refused to cooperate.

The allegations are that the lawman proceeded to the front of the vehicle in order to record the motor vechicle licence number, at which point Valentine drove off, running over the policeman’s feet and causing injury.

When cautioned, Valentine reportedly told the policeman that his action was a result of panic, triggered by the fact that he had previously received several other tickets.

Due to the injury sustained, the policeman was admitted to hospital for five days.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Valentine initially refused to admit guilt and instead presented a hazy account of the incident.

“Listen to me, sir, you are charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, that you purposely hit down the police officer,” judge Grant-Pryce pointed out to the defendant.

“No, I didn’t purposely hit him,” Valentine said.

“We will keep the plea as not guilty and the matter will be tried,” the judge said.

“You have to make up your mind. You are either guilty for the offence or you are not guilty… If you plead guilty to the offence, you will be fined today; but you can’t give me an explanation that makes no sense,” the judge told the defendant.

Valentine then pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined $300,000 or three months’ imprisonment.