A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence after driving at a Special constable in St Neots.

A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence after driving at a Special constable in St Neots.

James Barker, 25, of The Broad Walk, Eynesbury, was attempting to drive away from officers on the evening of March 10 this year in Sambar Close.

The Special was shunted out of the way but was not injured and Barker made his escape.

Barker pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday (November 23).

The court heard the assault happened at about 8pm on the same evening, about 20 minutes before Barker drove at the Special.

The victim, a 31-year-old man from Huntingdon, had been following a vehicle containing Barker and another man as it went slowly over speed bumps in Monarch Road, Eaton Socon.

The vehicle stopped and Barker and the other man got out confronting the victim who had flashed his lights and sounded his horn.

The victim swerved around the pair and drove into Sambar Close but was followed by Barker who punched him as he got out of his car.

Barker went to a friend’s house but decided to go back to the scene a short while later.

As he pulled into the cul-de-sac he saw an ambulance had arrived for the victim and he went to leave again but was stopped by the Special.

Barker was given a four month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, disqualified from driving for 12 months - and will have to take an extended re-test - and told to pay �250 court costs.

Civilian Investigator Brian Beattie said: “Barker admitted and regretted what he’d done but his driving was dangerous and the Special constable was lucky not to receive more serious injuries.”