A POLICE chief has praised officers' bravery in tackling a driver who rammed three police vehicles with an 18-ton digger.

They put their lives on the line to protect each other and members of the public, said Chief Superintendent John Lacy.

He spoke after 36-year-old manic depressive Ian Leaper was locked up indefinitely in a secure psychiatric unit.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, York Crown Court was told it was a miracle Leaper did not kill anyone as he manoeuvred the stolen excavator, chased cars and drove on the wrong side of the A19, near Barlby, on March 23.

Andrew Stranex, prosecuting, said officers in one car felt an "explosion" as he rammed their vehicle with the bucket held head-high and turned it over, trapping PC Karen Taylor inside.

PC Cheryl Moore, who was the first officer on the scene, was twice rammed by the digger.

The first time was when she was in her own vehicle and the second time after PC Stuart Davis and PC Philip Mincher picked her up in a third police car.

Mr Stranex said: "Leaper eventually holed up in a friend's home at Barlby after failing to hit a fourth police car nearby."

Leaper, of George Terrace, Barlby, pleaded guilty to aggravated taking of a digger and three charges of criminal damage "being reckless as to whether police officers' lives would be endangered".

The court heard he had not taken drugs to control his manic depression that day.

Supt Lacy said after the case: "There were some heroic actions by officers, who have put their lives on the line."

Sergeant Ian Butler, the senior investigating officer, said two officers, Carl Simpson and PCTaylor, came close to being killed after their car was flipped on its roof.

He said Leaper was heading towards the car when the bucket dug into the ground, giving PC Simpson enough time to pull PC Taylor out of the vehicle.

"The officers all showed great courage in trying to protect not only each other but also members of the public," he said.

Sgt Butler said: "I am delighted with the sentence - it's the right one."

Updated: 10:40 Friday, December 19, 2003