POLICE have paid £4,000 to a retired nurse injured by a reversing police car.

Teslyn Braithwaite, a grandmother from Old Trafford, suffered bruising and sprains after the patrol car being driven in a 'dangerous manner' hit her leg, knocking her to the ground.

A court heard it was the second time the driver, Pc Lorraine Crossman, had been involved in an accident.

But, after taking a refresher course, she has resumed full driving duties.

Mrs Braithwaite said she was walking down Denmark Road in Chorlton-on-Medlock in July 2005 when she saw a police car reversing out of Aberdeen Street.

She stopped at the corner to let the car finish backing out, but while she was waiting, the car stopped. Thinking the driver had paused to let her pass, Mrs Braithwaite began crossing the road.

But, as she was halfway across, the car began to reverse again, knocking her to the ground injuring her left leg, left knee, right hip and neck.

Mrs Braithwaite, then 67, launched a claim, but police contested liability after witnesses challenged her version of events.

In a statement, paramedic Mark McDermott, who was in a line of traffic on Denmark Road, said Mrs Braithwaite was less than arm's length from the police car when she 'appeared to bang her hands on the rear of the vehicle.'

He also claimed that after the accident Mrs Braithwaite remained standing before appearing to 'crouch down' and then 'sat down in the road'.

Reliable

But District Judge Haigh, at Bolton Combine Court, said Mrs Braithwaite was a reliable witness, and the paramedic's version of events was `consistent with paying attention to traffic conditions and observing the accident in his peripheral vision'.

Speaking of the policewoman, he said, 'a charitable view is that she is a young officer, clearly traumatised by the events'.

He ordered GMP to pay a total of £22,046, including more than £18,000 in costs, and £4,000 in damages.

Mrs Braithwaite said afterwards: "I feel vindicated by the judge's decision. I thought the car was going to push me out onto Denmark Road and that I would get killed. I don't think the policewoman who did this is fit to be behind the wheel."

The court heard that in December 2004 Pc Crossman was involved in an accident in which a cyclist was knocked off his bike, but suffered no injury.

Victoria Cox, of Mrs Braithwaite's solicitors Tranters Freeclaim, said: "At stake was Mrs Braithwaite's credibility. She always maintained her account of events. We are delighted the judge found our client to be honest and truthful."

A police spokesman said: "The officer driving the car was automatically suspended from driving duties and was asked to undergo a driver's refresher course.

"She has since resumed full driving duties and has not been involved in any collisions over the last three years."