AN offender who injured a policeman while trying to evade arrest in a stolen car has been put behind bars.

Paul Henry was parked by Fox Covert Cemetery in Appleton when he was stopped by the officer while on patrol on Wednesday, August 24.

The 34-year-old attempted to drive off from the officer, who was speaking to him through the driver’s side window, after providing a false name.

As the officer opened the driver side door, Henry revved the engine and reversed the car, causing the door to scrape the officer’s arm.

Henry drove away and was located at 2.50am on Long Lane in Orford as a passenger in a white Fiesta.

The car keys to the Renault Clio were in Henry’s hand and the vehicle was located on Rock Road in Westy displaying a false number plate.

A search of the car, which had sustained some damage, resulted in a lock knife and a metal bar being seized.

Henry was charged and pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, obstructing police in the execution of their duty and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a police officer when he appeared before Chester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 25.

He also admitted to driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, possession of a knife in public and failing to provide a blood specimen for analysis.

Chair magistrate Michael Danaher took the defendant’s guilty pleas into account, however he remarked that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

This was ‘inevitable’ due to his previous record of offending, driving history and the fact that the assault was against a public officer doing his job.

Henry, of Rushton Close in Burtonwood, was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison.

He was also disqualified from driving for more than five years and ordered to pay £250 in compensation, with an order approved for the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.

Following the sentencing, DS David Schofield said: “Henry was non-compliant when stopped by a police officer because he knew he was in a stolen car.

“He also had drug paraphernalia in his possession along with weapons, and he was also disqualified from driving.

“He provided the officer with a false name and drove away at speed, causing him to sustain an injury.

“Henry was located a short time later, and officers investigating the case worked throughout the day to ensure he was charged.”