A police officer who went on a drinking session while on paid sick leave allegedly tried to intimidate road crash victims, a court heard yesterday.

Detective Constable Nigel Clarke had drunk four pints of lager when he accepted a lift from Lee Dixon, who had consumed more then three times the legal drive limit, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The pair set off to get a take-away pizza but hit the front of a parked car containing Ken Smith and his wife, Denise, sending it 35 yards backwards.

Peter Moulson, prosecuting, told the court: "At the time, Clarke was a serving police officer, although he was signed off on sick leave.

"Clarke knew that Dixon was drunk at the time of the collision and tried to frustrate the prosecution by hatching a cover-up."

Mr Moulson said Det Con Clarke went into the pizza shop where the Smiths had gone.

"He then began to blame Mr Smith for causing the accident," said Mr Moulson.

Mr Smith told the court he heard sirens and went back outside the shop, in New Marske, east Cleveland. There, he heard Clarke tell Dixon to "leg it". But Dixon was so drunk he could hardly walk and was apprehended by police.

The court heard that Dixon has since been banned for 30 months and fined £150 after admitting drink-driving.

Det Con Clarke, 40, of High View Terrace, New Marske, North Yorkshire, an officer with Cleveland Police, denies attempting to pervert the course of justice. When interviewed, he said his conduct was "beyond reproach".

The case is expected to last four days.