A VAN driver who ran over a security guard as he attempted to thwart a break-in has been jailed.

The worker was seriously injured during the early hours incident at automotive supplier Plastic Ommnium’s base on Omega in October.

Last week, Iain Abley was handed three years behind bars at Liverpool Crown Court over the shocking assault.

He was behind the wheel of a silver Ford Transit van which entered the grounds of the warehouse on Skyline Drive at around 1am on Wednesday, October 28.

Several offenders got out of the vehicle and stole two mopeds from the premises’ car park before attempting to flee the scene.

As they did so, the 23-year-old staff member was hit by the van – which was ‘deliberately driven at him’ – as he attempted to stop the gang from leaving through the exit gates.

He was rushed to hospital after suffering serious injuries to his hand and leg and was discharged the same day – although he was ‘incredibly lucky not to have suffered life-changing injuries or worse’.

A few hours later, the van was found abandoned in the Belle Vale area of Liverpool and Abley was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The 25-year-old, from Liverpool, was then charged with dangerous driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of theft – counts which he admitted on Friday November, 27.

Following his sentencing, detective constable Nicola Charnock – of Warrington’s local policing unit – said: “Abley’s actions were terrifying for the victim, who put his own life at risk in order to stop him driving away from the scene of the crime.

“However, Abley hit the victim and then continued to carry on driving and flee the scene.

“The victim was incredibly lucky that he did not sustain life-changing, or worse, life-threatening injuries.

“I hope he finds some comfort in the sentencing handed to Abley today.”