A man drove head-on towards a police car in a Tesco car-park before crashing into the back of a parked car following a pursuit.

Hamza Hussain, 29, was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the offences on September 26, 2021, in Burnley.

Burnley Crown Court heard how at around 2am on that date, on-duty police officers spotted a BMW being driven the wrong way down Grimshaw Street and Parker Lane, both one-way roads.

Mercedah Jabbari, prosecuting, said the defendant did initially stop, but when an officer approached his vehicle and knocked on the window, he drove away again at speed.

The BMW was skidding due to the speed it was being driven at by Hussain, and the chase looked to be coming to an end when he entered the Tesco car park in Finsley Gate.

To get away again, Hussain drove his car head-on towards the police vehicle and swerved at the last second, mounting a pavement in doing so and causing the officers distress.

They briefly lost sight of Hussain as he sped away again, but they found his car crashed into the back of another in Hollingreave Road, though he had made off.

Officers searched the area and found Hussain staggering at a nearby junction with blood on his jumper and injuries to his face.

It was said his speech was slurred and one officer was having to hold him up.

Hussain was holding a bag which was seized and officers also located a small blue tub which contained nine knotted wraps of cocaine, weighing around 3.43g and having a street value of around £360.

Hussain, of Shearwater Drive, Blackburn, was arrested and provided a no comment interview.

Shufqat Khan, mitigating, his client had been apologetic through the court proceedings and knew he was responsible for the situation he found himself in.

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Prowse said: “On September 26, 2021, so some time ago now, in the early hours police were on duty in the locality and saw you driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

“They illuminated their lights, you initially stopped but as officers approached your car and knocked on the window you drove away.

“You were skidding because of your speed.

“You drove into the Tesco car park. To get out, you drove head-on at a police vehicle, causing the officers understandable fear of what would happen if you hit them.

“You lost control. You smashed into street furniture before you then impacted the back of a parked car.

“It’s no more than good fortune you were not more injured. Frankly, I couldn’t care less if you put your own life at risk, that’s your own stupid decision.

“When you were arrested, there were nine wraps of cocaine found in your possession.

“It was dangerous, it was foolish, it was criminal.”

Hussain pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a class A drug and dangerous driving.

On November 30, 2021, he appeared at magistrates’ court charged with drink driving and possession of cannabis arising out of the same circumstances as these.

He was fined, ordered to pay costs, and disqualified from driving for 22 months.

In this instance, Judge Prowse sentenced him to 15 months in prison suspended for 18 months, with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for a further 12 months and must complete an extended re-test.