A MAN who almost ran over a police officer after being arrested for a drugs offence has walked free from court.

Lewis Eagles, 27, had been arrested for possessing 23 grams of cannabis near Bulford on August 31 when he decided to make his escape.

The father-of-one sprinted to his car before speeding off, Salisbury Crown Court heard on Friday.

PC Bliss repeatedly shouted at Eagles to stop, even standing in the path of the car, but he continued driving at speed and clipped the officer's elbow with a "glancing blow".

Prosecutor Tom Wright said it was "more by luck than by judgement" that the officer escaped unhurt.

Eagles drove along the A3028 towards his home in Durrington.

When the road became jammed, he was seen weaving between stationary cars at 30mph, forcing oncoming traffic to swerve to avoid him.

Meanwhile, police were heading towards his home dress, where he later surrendered and was taken into custody.

Defending, Nicholas Cotter said Eagles had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He had not been thinking clearly and had panicked when he saw the officer, Mr Cotter said, because he was carrying almost £250 worth of cannabis.

What followed was 30 seconds of "relatively poor driving" that was "probably dangerous" given the slow-moving traffic.

He said Eagles was "terribly apologetic" and had never meant to hit the officer.

"It was a ten-minute, hot-headed, foolish panic," he said.

"Thankfully no-one was hurt."

Mr Wright asked the judge to ban Eagles from driving, but Mr Cotter said: "He's a mechanic. If he can't get behind the wheel of a car, he can't work. He loses everything."

Judge Susan Evans sentenced Eagles to a total of four month in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He received four months for escaping lawful custody and one month for possession of cannabis, to serve concurrently, and was allowed to keep his driving licence.

The judge said: "You created a dangerous situation both to the police officer and to the public."

Eagles, of Clover Lane in Durrington, previously denied dangerous driving and the prosecution dropped the charge.

He must attend rehab, complete a thinking skills programme and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, as well as pay £300 costs.