Cambridgeshire man who drove lorry straight at his family as they sat in the garden is given indefinite hospital order

This was the shocking scene after a man drove a lorry straight at his family as they sat in the garden of their East Cambridgeshire home.

Liam Clifton, 27, had been sitting chatting with them at Third Drove in Little Downham on June 22, 2020, when he suddenly got up and walked away.

Then his family heard the sound of an engine being revved loudly - and looked round to see Clifton driving straight towards them.

He smashed through a garden fence and across the lawn towards where they were sitting.

Clifton’s relatives dived out the way before he came to a halt on the decking.

He then used a garden chair to damage a car, before punching one of his relatives in the face.

By the time Cambridgeshire police arrived, he was holding a metal pole, which he initially refused to put down.

Officers used PAVA spray to restrain him and he was arrested.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (November 19), Clifton was given an indefinite hospital order after earlier pleading guilty to three counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

Detective Constable Neil Patrick said: “Clifton’s actions that day could have had devastating consequences. This sentence will allow him to get the support he needs.”