A MAN dressed as a Smurf was thrown over the bonnet of a car as a petrol thief drove off from a forecourt.

Brave Sainsbury’s employee Daniel Walker — who was dressed as the blue cartoon character for Red Nose Day — stood in front of the car after seeing the driver put the nozzle through the back window of the vehicle to fill up containers at the petrol station in Trinity Way, Bolton.

Ya-Amin Ghani got back in the Volvo when confronted by Mr Walk- er and a security guard, and then drove off — sending Mr Walker fly- ing over the bonnet.

Mr Walker, pictured, got up and ran after the car despite suffering a leg injury which left him with a limp for two weeks.

Ghani, who damaged several vehi- cles as he fled, drove through a red light but was followed then pulled over by a passing police car a short distance away.

The 30-year-old, of Hey Street, Rochdale, has now been jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and making off without payment.

Bolton Crown Court was shown dramatic CCTV of the incident, which took place at 12.30pm on March 18. Mr Walker, of Twist Lane, Leigh, who is manager of the petrol station, was walking back to the petrol sta- tion from the main store when he noticed Ghani filling containers in the back of the car.

Mr Walker had been at the main store to be locked in stocks as part of a fundraising effort for Comic Relief.

Yesterday the 25-year-old said: “I thought standing up to them was the right thing to do at the time.

“I did not expect him to drive at me when I stood in front of the car. “He said he had the money and was going to get it, and I thought that was what he was doing.

“He got in the car and the next thing I knew I was over the bonnet.

“I had adrenalin rushing so I chased after the car. I was just shocked that it actually happened. Who runs over a Smurf ?

“We laughed it off at the time, it is one of those things. I won’t be doing it again.”

He added: “Making off without payment is a huge problem going on across the UK.”

Bolton Crown Court heard that the security guard was also knocked down by the car in the incident.

Ghani managed to get away with £30 of fuel.

The court heard that Ghani, who was trying to start a catering busi- ness, was aiming to make a few pounds by stealing fuel as he was in financial hardship at the time.

Nick Ross, defending, said: “What started out as a good- humoured day carrying out a charity collection in fancy dress as a Smurf turned from comedy to tragedy.

“The defendant panicked when he found himself cornered. He accepts what he did was danger- ous and reckless.

“He feels bad and wishes to apol- ogise.”

Judge William Morris said: “The way you acted was very danger- ous. You struck two people and three cars and went through a red light.

“In my judgement, only a custo- dial sentence can be imposed on you.”

Ghani was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Co-defendant Ilias Kindilidis was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge at an earlier hearing.