Douglas Mills, 58, and his son Douglas Mills Jnr, 32, were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after being found guilty of attempted murder. The pair sped off in an Audi in August 2024 after PC Mark Smith, 35, approached them regarding a suspected drug deal in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
PC Smith was partly pulled into the car and then dragged along the road before being thrown to the ground. He sustained extensive injuries, including a fractured skull and a significant traumatic brain injury. Jurors reviewed graphic footage of the incident. The court heard the officer feared for his life and believed he would never see his family again.
Judge William Gallacher described the incident as a "murderous attack" that left PC Smith with "irreversible injuries which will have a substantial long-term effect on him to carry out normal activities." The judge stated there was no reason to differentiate the penalties for the father and son due to their "concerted conjoint attack."
Indefinite non-harassment orders were also imposed, prohibiting the men from contacting the officer. Two years after the attack, PC Smith has not returned to duty. He told the court that a part of him did not survive that day and he has accepted he will never be the same again, expressing uncertainty about his future in policing.
PC Smith and his colleague, PC Colin Harris, had identified Mills Jnr as the driver. Smith recounted approaching the vehicle, identifying himself as police, and being taken by surprise as the car accelerated. He felt himself being pulled off his feet, with his legs outside the car. He described being hit on the head and panicking, with the speedometer reaching 50 mph within seconds.
He was then pushed from the moving vehicle. "I thought there is no chance I am surviving here if I hit the road at this speed," Smith stated, recalling the "truly terrifying" sensation. His last memory before losing consciousness was the driver appearing "almost happy." He next recalled being taken to the hospital, where he was treated for a serious traumatic brain injury, a significant skull fracture, and a blood clot. He also lost a large percentage of skin from his back and is awaiting ankle ligament reconstruction surgery. He now suffers from sensory overload and low energy.
Mills Jnr testified, claiming the encounter was a chance meeting and that he believed the officer was an assailant. Following the sentencing, Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton called the attack "despicable" and noted its impact on PC Smith, his family, colleagues, and the wider organization. Detective Inspector Scott Robertson, the senior investigating officer, described the father and son as "very dangerous and callous individuals" and reiterated that violence against police officers is a serious criminal offense that will be rigorously prosecuted.