A DRIVER smashed into another car on a petrol station forecourt in an attempt to escape police.

Officers became suspicious of the Seat Leon when they checked its registration details and realised it was supposed to be a diesel car but was being filled with petrol at the Farnworth Filling Station on Harrowby Street.

Police blocked the vehicle in with their own car and approached the driver just before 4pm on March 1.

But Daniel Harman, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court that when officers opened the driver’s door, Steven Wimbleton slammed it shut again and tried to drive off.

“He then put the vehicle into drive and attempted to escape and collided with another vehicle on the forecourt,” said Mr Harman.

“Even if it wasn’t deliberate, it was highly reckless.”

Wimbleton later admitted his driving had been dangerous.

“It took place on a forecourt with all the inherent dangers,” said Mr Harman.

Wimbleton’s Seat became wedged between the vehicle and a wall.

“The driver was still revving the engine and smoke was coming from the tyres,” said Mr Harman.

A passenger in the Seat ran off and Wimbleton was arrested.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the Seat, which sustained £3,000 worth of damage, had been stolen in a burglary in December.

Wimbleton, aged 25, of Shillington Close, Worsley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and having no licence and appeared in court for sentencing via a video link from Manchester Prison.

The court heard that Wimbleton has multiple previous convictions, including for driving while banned and taking a vehicle.

Katie Jones, defending, said: “The defendant accepts that, having purchased the car a couple of days before the incident, that was not a legitimate purchase.

“When he realised the police were there, about to apprehend him, he panicked and made the very foolish, thoughtless and impulsive decision to try and drive away.

“This was not a sophisticated offence in any way. It was clearly doomed to failure.

“He wishes, through me, to apologise to the court for his behaviour. He realises now how serious it could have been [given the location].”

Miss Jones added that Wimbleton had involved himself with criminal associates from the age of 14 and, although he had used drugs, has now given them up and had been working for a concrete drilling company.

“He is clean of drugs now and very much wants to make a change,” she said.

But the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh said that Wimbleton had previously failed to engage with community sentences and only a custodial sentence could be imposed.

He sentenced Wimbleton to 12 months in prison and banned him from driving for two years and six months, after which he will have to take an extended test.

“In order to evade detection you drove the vehicle intentionally, or recklessly, into another vehicle,” Judge Walsh told Wimbleton.