A DRINK driver who injured a policeman in his bid to escape justice has been jailed.

Richard Gordon Smith’s actions could have caused the officer to be killed or lose his leg, York Crown Court heard.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, said the 32-year-old drove with the officer briefly attached to his car and sped the wrong way down a one-way street during a police chase through narrow streets with parked cars and pedestrians including women with pushchairs.

Defence barrister Nicholas Peacock said Smith didn’t want to be banned from driving.

He had been on a trip to the North Yorkshire coast for a drink.

Today Smith is serving 10 months in jail, cannot drive for 30 months and must take an extended driving test before driving alone again.

“If police officers ask you to stop, you have got to stop. If you don’t, you go to custody,” said Judge Simon Hickey.

He watched a video of the incident where Mr Galley said police stopped Smith in Scarborough.

When an officer tried to reach in to get his keys, he drove off at speed.

The judge said: “The officer could have lost his leg or lost his life.”

Mr Galley said Smith drove fast the wrong way down a one way street and nearly collided head on with two vehicles coming the other way.

He abandoned the car and fled but injured his ankle jumping down an embankment.

An urine test taken some time after the incident indicated he had more than twice the drink drive limit at the time of the dangerous driving.

The police officer escaped significant injury, said Mr Galley.

Smith, of Mapleton Crescent, Redcar, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.

Mr Peacock said: “There is no doubt this young man has behaved like a complete idiot. He should never have got into that car whilst he had been consuming alcohol.”

The defence barrister handed in a reference from Smith’s employer and said he was a hard-working man.

“He recognises he has made a dreadful mistake.”