He leaned into the driver’s side of Bates’ car to prevent her from taking off, but that didn’t stop her from accelerating in reverse and then drive, while revving and spinning the front wheels.
The officer, who was still partially in the vehicle and thought he may be flung from it, managed a quick exit.
Bates, 26, then made her escape along Coronation Ave where she overtook two vehicles at speed and drove into the path of an oncoming motorist.
Stuff
Bates admitted four resulting charges in the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday.
When police eventually caught up with her, she told officers she had “freaked out” as she had only recently got the vehicle out of impound.