A BANNED driver rammed a police car during a high speed chase through Bolton.

Connor Dickinson and his passenger eventually jumped out of the moving Ford Fiesta, which rolled across the road and smashed into a lamppost.

He was finally caught after being tracked by a police dog and boasted to officers arresting him: “I don’t give a f***, I’ll go back to prison. I make double what you earn selling Spice — nice one.”

Bolton Crown Court heard how Dickinson was was first spotted by officers at 2am on December 7 in the Westhoughton area.

He was driving a Fiesta, which was on false plates and had been stolen from the Chorley area two months earlier.

Gavin Howie, prosecuting, told how Dickinson then led the officers on an eight mile chase reaching speeds of over 90mph in residential streets.

The pursuit involved 21-year-old Dickinson speeding through red lights, heading through no-entry signs and driving on the wrong side of the carriageway.

At one point Dickinson turned into a gateway and then reversed, ramming the pursuing police car, leaving it with £7,000 worth of damage and two officers suffering slight whiplash.

The pursuit continued, ending eventually in Stitch-Mi-Lane, Harwood, when Dickinson and his passenger Adam Bailey, jumped from the car.

“The car then effectively ran across onto the opposite carriageway and struck a lamppost then rolled back into the police car,” said Mr Howie.

Dickinson, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst banned and having no insurance.

The court heard that he has 30 previous convictions for 44 offences, including half a dozen sentences for driving whilst banned.

His criminal career started when he was aged just 14 and he stole a car.

David Birrell, defending, said: "He wishes to apologise, through me, for his behaviour."

Mr Birrell stressed that Dickinson has ADHD and learning difficulties, is young and immature.

"But he does have the potential to change and mature," he added.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Dickinson to 11 months in prison and banned him from driving for two years and five months, after which he will have to take an extended test in order to gain a licence.

He told Dickinson: "It is right to say no one was significantly injured by what you did but that is fortuitous."