A JUDGE hailed the bravery of a policeman who stood in the path of a driver who refused to stop his car when he had been caught using his mobile phone.

Andrew Chapman was cornered in an alleyway following a chase along country roads in the early hours of the morning – but he still refused to give up.

He reversed towards the patrol car, accelerated forwards and across a pavement after turning off the lights in his Peugeot 205, a court heard.

An officer ran after the hatchback before Chapman did "a big sweeping turn" and drove at him, forcing the PC to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the officer caught up with the car, pulled out his asp to break the driver's side window and ran alongside it.

Chapman mounted a kerb and smashed into a wall, but as the PC tried to get to him, the driver tried to crush him before speeding off into the dark.

The car was found abandoned the following day and pub chef Chapman handed himself in to police hours later.

His barrister, Jonathan Walker, described Chapman's reaction to being asked to pull over as "reckless and chaotic" but said he had "panicked in a blur".

The judge, Recorder Eric Elliott, QC, told him: "The police officer very bravely and courageously speak to you and it is clear you drove at him.

"You're extremely fortunate you stand in that dock not facing a charge of that officer having sustained serious injuries. He must have been terrified.

"As you will know, too sadly, after the events of recent times, police officers are there to help the public and when someone like you behaves in this manner, it has got to result in a sentence of imprisonment."

However, after he admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving while using a mobile phone and failing to stop, Chapman's term of jail was suspended.

The court heard that Chapman, of Ryders Farm, Leyburn, was banned from the roads in April 2011 for a conviction of driving with excess alcohol.

He was disqualified for a further two years, had his nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £340 costs.

Mr Walker told the court: "He is deeply embarrassed by his actions, infused with regret, and doesn't seek to exonerate himself in any way.

"He unquestionably placed the officer in danger and it is only good fortune rather than intention on behalf of the defendant that he was not injured."

Prosecutor Jonathan Harley told the court that the drama started in Gayle, near Hawes, when the car was seen stationary in the middle of a road at 1am.

Two officers in the patrol car saw Chapman pull off using his mobile phone and followed him, but he sped off when they put on their blue lights.

"It was dark, in a rural location, so the roads down which the car fled were not lit, and the officers were reduced to following the shine from the tail-lights."

Following the case, a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Chapman's actions were completely selfish and extremely dangerous. To use a mobile behind the wheel is totally unacceptable. In recent years there have been a number of fatal collisions in North Yorkshire involving drivers using mobiles.

"Families have been left mourning the loss of a loved one. That is why North Yorkshire Police take the offence seriously and will target and prosecute drivers who flout the law.

"To attempt to harm a police officer whilst they are simply doing their job is appalling and simply not acceptable. The role of a police officer is to protect our local communities and to promote confidence and reassurance, but this should not come at the cost of their own personal safety."