A COURT official's attempts to arrest a painter and decorator he knew owed money ended in him being dragged along by a car, magistrates heard yesterday.

Stephanie Waite, prosecuting, said warrant enforcement officer Andrew Tate saw Peter Baronovsky walking towards his car at a garage in Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, while on his way home.

Mr Tate knew there was a warrant out for his arrest because of unpaid fines. He showed his warrant card and told Baronovsky, 45, he was being arrested but Baronovsky, of Berry's Avenue, Knaresborough, got into his car and started the engine.

Mr Tate leant into the car and got hold of the ignition key, but Baronovsky drove off. Mr Tate tried to keep pace but jumped clear, injuring his shoulder in the process.

Baronovsky pleaded guilty to careless driving and a charge of dangerous driving was dropped.

He was fined £70 with £60 costs and three penalty points.

His solicitor, Geoffrey Boothby, said he regretted the incident, which he said had involved driving only a short distance. He said his client could not recall seeing Mr Tate's identification card and had been unsure about what to do because he was on his way to collect his daughter from work.

Mr Boothby said Baron-ovsky had six points on his licence and feared another six, which would lead to a driving ban.

He said this would mean the loss of his job as a decorator.

He said a ban would also mean hardship for his partially sighted girlfriend and his children.