A 24-year-old man who panicked and rammed a police vehicle before driving off was today spared an immediate jail sentence.

Phillip Junior Hearsum pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, criminal damage and driving with excess alcohol on August 22 last year.

Hearsum, of Oswaldthorpe Avenue, Bradford Moor, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment suspended for two years at Bradford Crown Court today.

He must do 120 hours' unpaid work and obey a three- month overnight curfew.

He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended re-test before he gets back behind the wheel.

The court heard that Hearsum was a front-seat passenger in a Citroen Saxo pursued by the police from Leeds Road, Bradford, on to the city's Killinghall Road.

When the driver fled on foot, Hearsum jumped into his seat, reversed twice into a police car and drove off, despite an officer smashing a window with his baton.

Hearsum was arrested soon afterwards and found to be over the drink-drive limit.

After he was put in a police vehicle, he kicked the door, buckling it.

He told police he panicked and drove off when police stopped the car.