A Chessington man said financial problems forced him to drive while disqualified after a friend offered him cash for a lift into Kingston.

Nicholas Wheeler, 34, of Woodgate Avenue, was stopped by police in Canbury Park Road, Kingston on January 31, just seven days after being disqualified for having no insurance.

Lynn Sheppard, prosecuting at Kingston magistrates court on February 1, said when Wheeler was arrested he became "agitated" and, after being struck on the head by a police officer attempting to restrain him, "kicked out", injuring the policeman's finger.

Mr Spooner, defending, said Wheeler had endured pressure from friends in Chessington to get back behind the wheel.

"His friends offered him an amount of cash to drive them to Kingston, and, being short of money, he accepted," he said.

"He knows that was extremely foolish."

Wheeler pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and assaulting a police officer.

He was remanded in custody until February 21 for sentencing.