A car thief deliberately reversed at a police car as he tried to avoid arrest.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Dylan Murgatroyd then mounted a pavement and collided with a Range Rover and a wall before coming to a stop.

Murgatroyd, 25, of Water Street, Accrington, admitted to unauthorised vehicle taking aggravated by dangerous driving, assault, damaging cars, and having no insurance or licence.

He was committed in custody to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on October 8.

Uzma Kausar, prosecuting, said the vehicle involved in the dangerous driving was a Jeep Avenger which was a hire car.

The woman who had hired it was in the pub when she realised Murgatroyd had taken the vehicle and she alerted the police.

Officers spotted the vehicle being driven at speed in Burnley Road, Accrington, and there was a pursuit.

After reversing towards the police car and colliding with the Range Rover, Murgatroyd hit a parked Mini so hard that his car wheel went up the bonnet of that car.

She said the criminal damage charges related to two cars, one owned by a former partner and the other owned by her mother.

The assault was on another ex-partner and involved Murgatroyd throwing a stair gate, which hit her on the head.

He will be back in court for sentencing in October.