A BANNED motorist tried to drive off as a police officer was reaching into his car attempting to remove the keys from the ignition.

It briefly left the plain clothes officer at risk, hanging onto the car, until the Toyota Yaris collided with another vehicle.

Durham Crown Court heard the officer was on patrol duty in Blackhall Colliery and was drawn to the car as it was bearing a false registration plate, shortly after 4pm on August 15.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said as the detective reached the car, he told driver Keith Anthony Waites that he was a CID officer and asked him to remove the keys.

He said: “The defendant refused to do so and accelerated towards the unmarked police vehicle, just halting short of hitting it.

“He then reversed as the detective constable tried to lean in to remove the keys.”

Mr Harley said the officer took hold of the car door and ran alongside until the Yaris collided with a parked vehicle.

It resulted in the officer striking the door frame, causing an injury to his left elbow, plus swelling and numbness to his left hand.

Mr Harley said despite his injuries, the officer was able to detain and arrest Waites.

He was interviewed and admitted driving while disqualified, but initially denied dangerous driving, blaming the officer for reaching into the car.

The court heard Waites was previously also arrested after complaints were made to police by members of the public over the manner a Toyota Yaris was being driven round a car park, in Murton, on June 17.

He admitted being banned from driving at the time and, therefore, was uninsured.

Mr Harley said Waites’ previous offences included dangerous driving, for which he received a suspended sentence and driving ban in 2017.

The 25-year-old defendant, of Tenth Street, Blackhall, admitted dangerous driving, fraudulent use of a registration plate, assaulting a police officer, plus two counts each of driving while disqualified and without insurance. The latest offences also put him in breach of the suspended sentence.

Lewis Kerr, mitigating, said the defendant has learning difficulties, and is immature, often struggling to understand certain situations in which he finds himself.

Mr Kerr said at the time of the offences Waites was drinking on a daily basis, as well as taking cannabis, but has since curbed his intake.

Waites was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for two years and one month.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “You put that officer in a highly dangerous situation, putting his health and well-being at risk.”