A DANGEROUS driver who ran over a police officer could be facing a lengthy jail sentence.

Jordan Georgiou reached speeds of up to 65mph in 30mph residential streets in Clacton.

He was driving so fast he managed to get away from officers in an unmarked car because it was too dangerous for them to follow him at those speeds.

They then spotted him getting back into the car on a side street.

Anthony Abel, prosecuting, said: “The police wanted to speak to him.

“They drove alongside. Det Con Howard lowered the window.

“The defendant was getting back into the BMW.

“Det Con Howard lifted up his warrant card so it could be seen.

“He said ‘hey fella police, could you get out of the car please’.

“Simultaneously the sergeant got out.

“He went around the front to speak to the driver.

“The driver switched on the engine.

“Det Sgt Jeffries had got somewhere between the two cars showing his warrant card when he realised the car was coming.

“It did not reverse, which would have been an option, it came forward.

“It did not go straight forward, it moved to the left in the direction where Det Sgt Jeffries was standing.”

Mr Abel claimed Det Sgt Jeffries attempted to jump out of the way, and was able to avoid being hit head on but the car caught his foot, spun him around and sped off.

The 23-year-old, of Point Clear Road, Clacton denied, but was convicted of dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.

He had claimed he did not know they were real police officers and feared his friend’s BMW, which he was driving, was going to be car-jacked.

The jury unanimously rejected this claim and gave guilty verdicts after two-and-a-half hours.

Georgiou will be sentenced on April 13.