A MAN today pleaded guilty to taking an 18-tonne excavating tractor and endangering the lives of five police officers during an incident on the A19, near Selby.

Ian Robert Leaper, aged 35, of George Terrace, Barlby, near Selby, appeared at York Crown Court and admitted one charge of aggravated vehicle taking, and three charges of criminal damage, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The damage charges related to two police vans and a Peugeot 306 police car. The court heard that the lives of police officers Cheryl Moore, Stuart Davies, Philip Mincher, Karl Simpson and Karen Taylor, were endangered during the incident on March 23 at Barlby.

The case was adjourned for a psychiatric report to be prepared. Leaper was remanded in custody.

Updated: 14:20 Friday, August 01, 2003