A learner driver whose motoring brought havoc to a York retail park has been jailed for two months for his behaviour.

Lee Moore, 24, was speeding around a car park at Clifton Moor when he smashed into another vehicle and police were alerted.

But he then panicked, twice rammed a police car and injured two officers, York magistrates heard.

Moore, formerly of Boroughbridge and now of Long Street, Topcliffe, Thirsk, had just driven a Ford Orion car more than 15 miles into York.

He has yet to take his driving test and his last lesson was more than six years earlier, said defence solicitor Mark Thompson in response to magistrates' questions.

The bench jailed Moore for two months, banned him from driving for 12 months and ordered him to take an extended driving test.

Mr Thompson said after the hearing that he would appeal.

Moore, a labourer, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in the car park outside McDonalds and Toys R Us at Clifton Moor, driving without insurance, failure to stop after a collision at the Flying Legends pub car park and failure to report a collision.

He had no previous convictions.

"You drove a car dangerously in a pub car park, resulting in two collisions, then tried to escape arrest," said senior magistrate Keith Brining.

Prosecutor David Garnett said another motorist called police when Moore drove "erratically" at speed in the pub car park, crashed into a Toyota causing £350 damage and sped off.

A few minutes later in the retail park car park, police in a marked van pulled up in front of the Orion which had two men inside. An unmarked police car parked behind it.

Moore reversed his car twice into the police car, severely damaging its driver's door.

The two officers inside suffered whiplash injuries and had to go on sick leave.

Moore leapt out of his car and tried to run away, but was caught nearby.

Mr Thompson said: "He very much regrets his behaviour and he has shown genuine remorse."

He did not realise a vehicle was parked behind him, let alone that it was a police vehicle and he acted in a state of "extreme panic."

Updated: 08:54 Tuesday, May 15, 2001