Tractor tearaway

A farmer's son who was being chased by police tried to outrun the officers' car – in a tractor.

Drunken Thomas Kirkham refused to stop the tractor, which was pulling a plough, despite police pursuing him with flashing blue lights and twice pulling alongside him ordering him to stop, a court heard.

The pursuit, along roads in Tyldesley, ended with Kirkham driving the tractor off-road by smashing through a fence and into a field.

Police eventually had to spray CS gas in his face to get him out of the tractor and, during the struggle, one of the police officers suffered a broken hand.

Kirkham, 36, of Morleys Farm, Morleys Lane, Astley, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop a vehicle for a police officer and driving without insurance when he appeared before Wigan magistrates.

He was given a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for two-and-a-half years and was ordered to pay £1,250 compensation.

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