A TEENAGE terror driver whose desperate attempt to escape arrest after a high-speed chase left a police officer injured, has been sentenced to 18 months in custody.

The Evening Press can reveal that Foster Allan, 16, was the youth behind the wheel of a Citroen AX that led police on a dangerous pursuit across York.

We successfully applied to lift a ban on naming Allan, of Melrosegate, Tang Hall, because of the severity of his crimes.

York Crown Court heard that Allan's car was rammed and cornered by a patrol car, but that he then dragged PC Julian Pearson along the ground as he sped away again.

Judge Paul Hoffman described Allan's driving, which was captured on a police video, as "simply appalling" and said his actions caused two collisions and endangered other motorists.

He said: "I'm satisfied that this was a thoroughly selfish and callous piece of driving which endangered that officer's life.

"The message must get home to young men such as himself, who, after all, are the biggest culprits of this sort of irresponsible and dangerous driving, that custody will surely follow."

PC Pearson said after the case: "We have pursued him before on numerous occasions and this judgement is not before time. It's good that he has been brought to book and sends out a strong message to others."

The court heard how the traffic officer spotted Allan in his friend's Citroen AX and a high-speed chase began when Allan accelerated harshly and raced through Heslington village and down a back road near Fulford Golf Club.

The police car rammed the Citroen twice and PC Pearson smashed the driver's window with his baton as he attempted to stop Allan, but the revving car pulled free at the last moment, pulling the officer along with it.

Allan was arrested minutes later in a different car at nearby Elvington Airfield after police launched a major search that included drafting in a helicopter from a neighbouring force.

The court heard that the tearaway had been arrested 40 times for vehicle-related offences, burglary and other crimes, and has all ready been made subject to a two-year antisocial behaviour order (ASBO).

Earlier this year he was sentenced to a four-month detention and training order for driving while disqualified, and he has two other convictions for similar offences.

For Allan, Katherine Robinson said he had panicked when rammed by the police car and had revved his car's engine by accident as his foot was trapped on the pedal.

She said his friend and front-seat passenger, Ricky Pilcher, 19, who has been charged with a lesser offence, had started the chase by pointing out that a police car was following them.

Robin Allan, Foster Allan's older brother, was last month sentenced to five months in prison for breaching an ASBO aimed at preventing him terrorising the Tang Hall community.

Allan admitted driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest on June 16.

Updated: 10:25 Saturday, October 16, 2004