A MAN who ran over a police officer and sparked a car chase in Salisbury before going on the run for two months has been jailed.

Winchester Crown Court heard that police were called in after Glen Dolan, 29, refused to leave the Devizes Inn, Devizes Road, after being told to go by the landlord on March 4.

When officers arrived they saw Dolan get into his rented black Vauxhall Insignia, which he then drove into an officer, knocking him to the ground and injuring his knee.

Dolan, pictured, then drove out of the pub car park and crashed into a Fiat before driving off at speeds of 40mph to 50mph along residential roads, driving in a way one witness described as “absolutely insane”.

He then turned down a country track and the car got stuck, so he abandoned it and ran off. He then disappeared and was on the run for two months before police tracked him down.

Tammy Mears, prosecuting, told the court Dolan has 39 previous convictions for a number of similar offences including driving while disqualified and without insurance, failing to stop, GBH with intent to resist arrest, assaulting a police officer, and driving without due care and attention.

Derek Perry, defending, said despite his record Dolan had been trying to turn his life around.

“The irony is, as he sees it his life was on the up when this happened,” said Mr Perry. “For one of the first times in his life he was driving wholly legitimately.”

Dolan, who now lives in Alfred Street, Westbury, admitted causing actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Sentencing him on Wednesday to 20 months in prison, Judge Peter Ralls said: “Your previous convictions indicate a worrying trait that seems to be displayed in past behaviour. This was potentially a life-threatening incident.”

Dolan was also disqualified from driving for three years.