AN offender who sparked a police chase has avoided a jail sentence.

John Hogan, aged 24, admitted dangerous driving and two counts of failing to answer bail following an incident on October 20, 2010.

He saw police approaching his home in Ainsworth Road, Bury in an unmarked car and reversed into the car before driving away at speed.

At Bolton Crown Court on Wednesday, Lisa Bakker, prosecuting, said: “He drove erratically on the wrong side of the road. The traffic was quite heavy, it was school finishing time.”

He narrowly avoided crashing into a lorry. Police lost sight of Hogan, but he handed himself in later that day.

Adam Watkins, defending, said: “It was a pursuit over a relatively short distance.”

Hogan, now of Middleton, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete a supervision requirement and attend a court to address alcohol and drug problems.