A 22-YEAR-OLD Whalley man narrowly missed colliding with a police car as he sped off a petrol station forecourt and ‘fish-tailed’ across the road.

Blackburn magistrates heard Sean Ronnan raced away at high speed and officers watched in horror as he crossed double white lines to overtake other vehicles, the second manoeuvre as he approached the ‘blind’ brow of a hill.

And the court heard of another incident when Ronnan, driving the same car, raced through the centre of Clitheroe and had to swerve to avoid a uniformed police officer who had stepped into the road directing him to stop.

Ronnan, of The Arches, Whalley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on Whalley Road, Clitheroe, on July 6 and driving without due care and attention in York Street, Clitheroe, on May 19.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the Whalley Road incident happened at 11.30pm.

Officers driving towards Clitheroe saw a black Audi leaving the petrol station at high speed.

“The wheels were spinning and the car fish tailed across the road almost hitting the police vehicle,” said Miss Allan.