Driver rammed police car in bid to escape, court told

Sheffield Crown Court heard that Andrew Walton narrowly missed pedestrians during the drama after he was spotted in a Ford Mondeo by police officers who knew he had no motor insurance.

They tried to stop him by blocking Albert Road near Walton’s home in Rawmarsh, but the 45-year-old reversed away down Goosebutt Street and into the main road at Barber’s Avenue.

Other police tried to set up a road block using cars, but Walton rammed one out of the way as he escaped.

The car was later found near-by with Walton hiding between two bins and complaining of back injuries.

He was taken to hospital where he told staff he had been fleeing police at up to 70mph before the car mounted the kerb and crashed into a fence.

Walton, of Spalton Road, Rawmarsh admitted dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance on November 13 last year.

He was given a community order with 100 hours of unpaid work, he was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £60.

The court heard he had been in custody since November 28 and was receiving methadone on a daily basis.

He had first been convicted of taking a car without consent and driving while disqualified at the age of 15. He had also been given youth custody for stealing cars, was given a suspended prison sentence in 1991 at Sheffield Crown Court and in 1993 was jailed for nine months for car crime.