A TEENAGER attempting to flee Scout Road car park hit a police officer who had caught him driving without insurance.

Bolton Crown Court heard how PC Andy Bateson was struck a "glancing blow" by the Volkswagen Golf being driven by 19-year-old Devontay Seaton around the remote car park at Scout Road, Smithills.

Seaton, whose girlfriend was in the passenger seat, managed to escape the car park after driving over a bank and hitting a wall.

He was arrested hiding in moorland after crashing his friend's car into a concrete post near the Wilton Arms on Belmont Road.

Colin Buckle, prosecuting, told how officers attended the car park just before 11pm on November 8 after reports of anti-social behaviour.

When they got there they parked their vehicle across the entrance to prevent any of the three cars inside from leaving.

PC Bateson and his colleague approached the Golf and when checks revealed that driver Seaton was not insured he attempted to drive off.

Mr Buckle said: "He put the vehicle into reverse and PC Bateson had to jump out of the way of the vehicle to avoid being hit."

He added that Seaton drove several times around the car park, at times appearing to drive at the officers.

"There was plenty of room without the defendant needing to drive near the officers," said Mr Buckle, who added that on one occasion Seaton drove so close that he dealt a "glancing blow" to PC Bateson.

Although the police officer was not seriously hurt the court heard he was left with soreness.

Eventually Seaton managed to escape the car park, damaging the Golf by driving over a low bank and brick wall.

Following his arrest Seaton, of Littlebrooke Close, Tonge Moor, denied having deliberately driven at the officers.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop and having no insurance.

Peter Warne, defending, said that Seaton, who has no previous convictions, had borrowed a friend's car to take his girlfriend out after his own vehicle had to be scrapped and he could not afford to replace it.

He added that Seaton regrets his behaviour in the car park.

"It was clearly a reckless act rather than a purposeful act borne out of panic," he stressed.

He added that Seaton had been hoping to obtain a visa to work in Australia for two years, but the conviction has now ended that dream.

Sentencing Seaton to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Anna Vigars told him: "What you did that night was incredibly stupid. It was also incredibly selfish and put at risk police officers who were there conducting checks that they should have been able to conduct safely."

Recorder Vigars ordered that Seaton should be electronically tagged and subject to a 9pm to 6am curfew for three months.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months and will have to undertake a rehabilitation activity for 20 days.