A DRUNKEN driver rammed a police car twice and hit four parked cars during a high speed chase.

Paul Hadden, aged 28, was spotted by police driving in Hag Fold, Atherton, but he sped off when they tried to stop him.

During the chase, he hit four cars and twice reversed into a police car in a bid to escape.

Judge Bruce Macmillan jailed him for 18 months yesterday and banned him from driving for three years.

Hadden, of Windermere Avenue, Atherton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence having earlier admitted dangerous driving, criminal damage to a police car and failing to provide a specimen on March 10.

The court was told Hadden crashed into a parked car causing £150 worth of damage and then reversed at high speed into a police car to escape.

He then hit another parked car, pushing it 12 feet along the road and causing £600 worth of damage and reversed into the police car again.

After police arrested Hadden, he failed to provide a specimen.

His criminal record stretched back to 1990 and involved offences of assault, affray, drugs and dishonesty and driving matters.

The court was told Hadden was so drunk he had little recollection of the evening or the reasons behind his driving.

He had been diagnosed as suffering from depression and had problems with drugs and alcohol.