Newman was with another officer responding to a report of attempted burglary of a bookmakers in Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, at 05:00 on 24 April 2022.
The two officers approached a white Ford van which Sandiford was driving, and cut it off as it approached a side road.
Jurors were told the pair tried to stop the vehicle and Newman used his baton to strike at the driver’s side, opened the driver’s door and tried to pull Sandiford out.
Sandiford held his hands up as he got out of the vehicle and Newman shouted at him to get on to his knees while pointing a Taser at him, the court heard.
Sandiford bent his knees slightly before running away, and was pursued by the two officers.
Kevin Baumber, defending, asked whether Sandiford had been trying to burgle the betting shop, which he denied.
Sandiford told the court he ran from police because he had been “spooked” after seeing a truncheon and a Taser.
“I made a promise to my children that I wouldn’t go down that road again and I wouldn’t go back to prison,” he said.
“I just told myself I ain’t going to jail for something I ain’t done.”