A MOTORIST who assaulted a policeman as he tried to escape after being caught drink driving has been spared a jail sentence. Benjamin Clapton, 26, was put on 40 hours community service, given a one year probation order and banned from driving for three years.

Earlier a judge at Swindon Crown Court had been told how police had spotted Clapton speeding dangerously in a white VW Polo shortly before 10pm on June 9.

Jane Warren, prosecuting, said officers in a marked car were alerted to the vehicle as its exhaust system had come loose and was dragging on the road, causing a flurry of sparks.

She said the car travelled at speeds of up to 50mph through Regent Circus, Crombey Street, Eastcott Hill, Stafford Street and Hythe Road before Clapton left the car and ran off. After a short chase PC Tim Wadsworth caught up with Clapton. As he tried to get over a fence the officer grabbed his sleeve but as he pulled away both ended up on the barbed wire.

Clapton, of St Mary's Grove, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to drink driving, dangerous driving, assaulting a PC with intent to resist arrest and driving with a defective exhaust.

Recorder Tim Grice told Clapton: "If there had been anybody in your path when you were driving like this they would have been seriously injured or killed."