A BRAVE police officer armed with just a baton tried to stop a dangerous driver who nearly ran him over.

Daniel Fenn, then an acting sergeant with West Mercia Police, stood his ground as he tried to apprehend a suspect, blocking a Worcester road with his car and himself, holding out his baton and shouting 'stop, police!'

Instead, Omar Ali drove towards him, missing him by just a metre, and rammed his Renault Megane into the officer's police car during the incident in The Hill Avenue, Worcester.

The 25-year-old admitted dangerous driving when he appeared before recorder Anthony Warner at Worcester Crown Court on Friday following the incident on October 2, 2015.

Charles Hamer, prosecuting, said acting sergeant Fenn was on duty in plain clothes in an unmarked car when he received a radio message that a Renault Megane contained 'a person of interest' to police.

Acting sergeant Fenn was driving along London Road, Worcester, at around 2.45pm with the intention of stopping and speaking to the driver when he saw the suspect in the Megane turn right into Battenhall Road and followed him. Ali was driving and another male was in the passenger seat, the court heard.

The Megane turned into St Dunstan's Crescent and from there into The Hill Avenue where Ali performed a three point U-turn so the officer's car and Ali's were facing each other.

Mr Hamer said: "Acting sergeant Fenn manoeuvred his vehicle so that it was at an angle in the road to narrow the aperture for the Renault Megane to prevent it making its way past the police vehicle and out onto London Road, thereby escaping."

Acting sergeant Fenn got out of his car with the intention of taking Ali's keys to prevent him leaving the area when he heard the engine revving loudly.

The officer extended his auto-lock baton to further narrow the gap and shouted 'Stop, police!' Mr Hamer told the court.

The Megane was described by acting sergeant Fenn as reversing for 40 metres at a speed of around 30mph and 'with no real control' and 'swerving from side to side, narrowly missing parked vehicles'.

Mr Hamer said: "The danger would have been if any other vehicle had been coming in the opposite direction.

"The officer ran about 20 metres forward to try and catch up with the Megane. He heard the Renault Megane's engine revving again and shouted 'stop, police!' and held out his auto-lock baton which was on full display."

Ali drove the Megane towards him at an estimated speed of between 30 to 40 miles per hour.

Acting sergeant Fenn moved out of the way but judged the Megane was about a metre from him when it past him.

The Megane struck the unmarked car and caused its open door to slam shut before Ali turned back into St Dunstan's Crescent and made off.

It is not the first time the officer has shown courage in the line of duty.

When he was a police constable with sergeants Sarwan “Billy” Johal and David Pyle and PCs Jonathon Griffith, James Prosser, David Wood and James Wood he was commended after saving the life of a man who tried to drown himself in the river Severn on December, 30 2009.

Ali was arrested on October 13, 2015 and made a no comment interview to police.

Mr Hamer said Ali had three previous convictions for five offences and was 'not heavily convicted'. Ali has convictions for shoplifting, going equipped and conveying an article into prison.

Michael Polak, defending, said Ali was fit and healthy and 'suitable for unpaid work'.

Recorder Anthony Warner said: "Dangerous driving is a serious offence. On this occasion you put the safety of a police officer potentially at risk and you damaged a police car."

However, he agreed with Mr Hamer that it was 'not the worst dangerous driving' and that Ali had been in no further trouble since the incident.

He sentenced Ali to 16 months in prison suspended for two years, banned him from driving for 18 months and ordered him to complete an extended driving retest.

The recorder further ordered Ali to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and told Ali: "You can leave the dock. Take advantage of this opportunity."