A Menheniot man who escaped from a police officer who arrested him, and then falsely reported that his car had been stolen narrowly escaped a custodial sentence at Truro Crown Court on Friday.
Judge John Samuels placed 27-year-old Justin Brown, of Lower Clicker Road, on probation for l8 months and ordered him to do 75 hours of community service and pay £300 prosecution costs.
Brown, a partner in his father's car parts business, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to escaping from lawful custody and doing an act which tended, and was intended, to pervert the course of public justice. Iain Leadbetter, prosecuting, said that after being stopped because sparks were coming from beneath his car, Brown failed a breath test and then struggled with PC Mark Fahy who had to produce his CS gas canister.
Brown ran off and later telephoned the police and falsely reported that his car had been stolen. He was arrested when PC Fahy saw him with others outside a kebab shop. He again ran off, but was caught by the officer and an extremely unpleasant, ugly scene developed. Other officers were called and CS gas was used.
When escorted to a police van Brown kicked and struggled, and at the police station told the officer he knew where he and his partner lived, and the exact make and model of her personal car.
Defending Brown, a man with previous convictions, David Page said he accepted his stupid behaviour was the result of his drinking, and he wished to apologise to the officer. David Brown told the court that four days in custody had 'scared the living daylights' out of his son, and he now rarely went out or drank alcohol.
The judge told Brown his offence clearly merited a custodial sentence, but he was prepared to take an exceptionally lenient course.