A MAN has pleaded guilty to jumping into a pensioner's car and ordering her to drive as he fled from the police.

Bolton magistrates heard Muddasser Ali, aged 21, jumped into the passenger seat of the green Ford Puma being driven by 63-year-old Gillian Horridge. But the brave retired auxiliary nurse refused and jumped out of the moving vehicle.

The drama had unfolded shortly before noon on January 7 this year when Ali was stopped by a police officer in Dorset Street driving a black VW Golf which was being sought in connection with an armed robbery in Birmingham.

As the officer tried to talk to him, Ali got out of the vehicle and started to kick and punch the officer to the ground. Within minutes, police reinforcements arrived at the scene. Roads were sealed off but Ali ran off towards the A666, leaving the officer lying injured on the floor.

At about noon, Gillian Horridge had been driving along Bradford Street and had just turned onto St Peter's Way.

She saw Ali running along the slip road and he turned towards her car. As she tried to lean over to lock the passenger door she became trapped by her seat belt.

Ali jumped into the seat and ordered her to keep driving but Mrs Horridge panicked and jumped out of the moving vehicle.

The carjacker sped off in the car which was later found abandoned in the Heaton area.

Ali was eventually arrested and charged with robbery, dangerous driving, criminal damage and assaulting three police officers. He admitted all the offences.

He is due to be sentenced at Bolton Magistrates Court on Friday April 4.