A DANGEROUS driver sped at more than twice the legal speed limit around Clacton before running over a policeman to make his getaway, a court heard.

Jordan Georgiou denies dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Anthony Abel, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, said: "We say the driver was driving far too fast for the conditions in Clacton.

"A police car was following but was not in a position to give chase and could not keep up with the defendant who admits to being the driver."

It is alleged, on August 16, the 22-year-old was spotted driving a BMW along Old Road and Skelmersdale Road at speeds of up to 65mph.

The speed limit is 30mph because they are residential roads.

It is claimed officers lost sight of the car but found it again in Connaught Gardens East.

They were in plain clothes and an unmarked car.

It is alleged Georgiou, of Point Clear Road, drove at one of the police officers, who was struck by the car, before fleeing the scene.

Mr Abel said: "We say the defendant was trying to escape from police.

"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 has got out.

"He has gone round the front to speak to the driver.

"The driver has 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 jury, of nine women and three men, heard the officer slammed his forearm into the windscreen partly to get his balance and to stop the car.

It is alleged instead Georgiou spun the wheels and drove off at speed.

Mr Abel said: "The officer who was driving went about 50 yards to see if he could give chase but he could not keep up.

"He had to go back to give medical assistance to his colleague who was stumbling around in the gutter and pavement."

Georgiou denies driving dangerously and he denies assault claiming he did not know they were police officers.

He also referred to fake police officers carjacking people in Essex around that time as the reason he fled.

The trial continues.