A THIEF was stopped by police “wobbling all over the place” as he attempted to make a getaway on a stolen quad bike, a court heard.

James Govan was filmed by officers driving the red Honda bike along Heighington Road, in Newton Aycliffe, in the early hours of October 12 last year.

The quad bike had been stolen earlier from a garage at a farm in Bishopton, near Stockton after the keys were taken from a kitchen.

Prosecutor Colin Harvey told Teesside Crown Court that the quad bike was in convoy with a hatchback vehicle and managed to hit a police car during the incident.

Govan, who received a rib injury as a result, was arrested and taken to hospital. But Mr Harvey said he then made a “feeble attempt” to escape and was found by officers hiding in a car park.

He admitted theft, escape when under lawful arrest, driving a vehicle without reasonable consideration to other road users and failing to supply a breath specimen.

His barrister Rebecca Brown said Govan, who was said to run a business with his partner, had not been in trouble with the police since 2008, although he had a previous criminal record.

Govan, 36, of Holly Hill, Shildon, County Durham, was bailed and the case adjourned in order that a pre-sentence report be prepared on him. He is due back in court on May 27.