A BANNED driver threw a police officer around “like a rag doll” after he was caught following a pursuit.

Jack McGrail, who was already banned from driving, tried to run off after abandoning a VW Jetta in Hawthorne Road, Bolton during a car chase through Bolton on April 3.

Craig MacGregor, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how PC Rawlinson-White, who was alone, chased McGrail on foot onto Wigan Road.

“He grabbed Mr McGrail and shouted at him to get onto the floor, but was overpowered and thrown to the floor himself,” said Mr MacGregor.

“The defendant jumped on top of the officer, pinning him to the floor.”

PC Rawlinson-White, whose radio was broken in the struggle, used his CS gas spray on his attacker but McGrail would not give up.

“The police officer tried to physically hold him once more but, again, he was thrown off and thrown to the ground.”

Eventually, the spray took affect and McGrail, of Kendrew Road, Bolton, was arrested.

The court heard how the officer spent a week with his left leg in a plaster cast with a suspected fractured and was diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament. He is currently desk-bound as a result.

In a victim statement the officer described how he had been “thrown around like a rag doll before being forcefully pinned to the floor”.

The court heard that the pursuit had begun when police became suspicious of a VW Jetta and tried to stop it.

Instead, during a three minute chase through Bolton streets, McGrail drove at up to 80mph and on the wrong side of the road, forcing other vehicles out of the way and through a red light towards oncoming traffic.

The chase came to an end on Hawthorne Road when its way was blocked by a taxi and McGrail and two other men jumped from the vehicle, leaving it to roll into parked cars, damaging them.

When caught, McGrail had 14 bags of cocaine and 14 of heroin. The court heard he is likely to face further charges relating to the drugs.

McGrail pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst banned and having no insurance.

At the time he was subject to a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving but the court heard that he has failed to engage with the probation service or do much of his unpaid work.

Niamh McGinty, defending, said that at the time of the offences McGrail was addicted to drugs and had a chaotic lifestyle.

“He knew he was disqualified and had drugs in the car and so panicked,” she said.

“He is horrified that his actions have led to such an injury. He certainly had some growing up to do.”

Judge Tom Gilbart remanded McGrail in custody and will sentence him on Thursday.