A police officer carrying out speed checks had to jump out of the way of a car after the driver failed to stop when flagged down.

Ryan Stevens, of Creg Willey’s Hill, in St John’s, told police that he had panicked.

The 22-year-old was fined £800 after admitting careless driving, failing to stop for police, and having a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told magistrates sitting in Douglas that, on April 10 last year at 5pm, police were performing speed checks at the bottom of Kewaigue Hill in Douglas. Stevens was seen approaching and flashing his lights at the top of the hill.

A police officer stood in the middle of the road with his hand raised to stop Stevens’ Ford Fiesta and waved him to pull in.

However, Stevens ignored the instruction and continued to drive straight on causing the officer to jump out of the way.

As Stevens passed, he gestured to police with both hands off the wheel as if shrugging.

Police followed and the Stevens stopped at the Auto Electrical Centre.

Two tyres on the car were said to be exposing cord on the inner shoulders and it was taken to the vehicle test centre.

All four tyres were found to be defective, as well as the brakes and lights.

When interviewed, Stevens told police he had panicked and did not think it was a safe place to stop when he was flagged down.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said: ’Mr Stevens was driving and another driver flashed at him because of the police and he was flashing back in thanks.

’He panicked and didn’t stop at the place the police wanted him to.’

He added: ’He did stop a short distance later and had the vehicle fixed as soon as the errors were pointed out to him.

’The car was 20 or 30 metres away when the officer jumped out of the way.’

Magistrates also endorsed the defendant’s licence with six penalty points and ordered him to pay £50 prosecution costs.