A MENTALLY ill man who kicked a policeman unconscious and attacked two women has escaped jail.

Josiah Buck, 24, was staying at the Brokerswood Country Park caravan site near Westbury when he downed a cocktail of medication and alcohol last April.

Buck, who suffers from a mild form of schizophrenia, repeatedly punched the two women in the head and kicked a police officer while he was being restrained.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing actual bodily harm, one of common assault and one count of affray at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Charles Wade said sending Buck to prison would be "severely detrimental" to his mental health and sentenced him to 80 hours community punishment order and a two-year community rehabilitation order.

Prosecuting Stacey Turner said: "Just after 11.30pm the park manager at Brokerswood was awoken by two males talking very loudly and Mr Buck was urinating against a shower block.

"She invited him and his father to leave the campsite the following morning.

"Mr Buck and his son got into their vehicle and were making their way to leave that night. Mrs Coley was concerned about their ability to drive."

She stopped the car, took the keys and they then started pushing and shoving her in the shoulder.

"Mr Buck then punched her in the side of the head about four times. She was assisted by Susan Capon, another member of staff at the campsite."

Mrs Coley was then hit on the head, fell backwards and lost consciousness.

The police arrived and saw the defendant being restrained by two bare-chested men who had come outside to help.

Pc Stewart Johnson tried to restrain Buck's hands by the wrists.

He felt a thud on the rear of his right ear, which caused him to lose consciousness and he woke up with a colleague cradling his head.

Defending, Liz Cunningham said: "Although the court will be concerned with these assaults we must be grateful that no long term injuries were caused.

"It was totally out of character for him and this particular evening was far and away the exception to Mr Buck's rather tragic life, whose medical condition stops just shy of schizophrenia.

"He feels proper and considered remorse for his actions."

Sentencing, Judge Charles Wade said: "In my view it would surely be detrimental to your mental health to send you to prison."