A man who kicked out at a police officer, swore at him and called him "bald" after crashing his brother's BMW has been spared jail.

Daniel Sweeney, of Tweseldown Road, Church Crookham, launched the drink-fuelled abuse while being arrested for refusing to take a breathalyser test.

The court heard that officers were called by members of the public after the 34-year-old smashed the vehicle into a parked car on May 22 this year.

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When police arrived at the scene in Fleet they found him sat in the BMW with the keys out of the ignition.

He was described as visibly intoxicated and "unsteady on his feet". Sweeney then became abusive, delivering the foul-mouthed rant while trying to kick one of the officers and his squad car.

He was arrested and taken to the police station where he was said to have been "belligerent throughout", continually refusing to provide a sample for analysis.

Appearing without representation, Sweeney said: "This is why I just shouldn't drink at all. I hadn't done for the last two years but this was a relapse. I didn't plan to drive or crash."

He said police didn't give him the chance to "blow into the machine", adding that the mood had been soured after they had argued in the car on the way to the station.

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Sweeney - who stood in the dock wearing a white shirt and jeans - was disqualified from driving from 24 months, with the option to reduce that term by 24 weeks if he completes an approved rehabilitation course within the next year.

He was also slapped with a three-month curfew which will see him housebound between the hours of 8pm to 5am. The curfew will be electronically monitored.

The bench further imposed a surcharge of £95 and order him to pay costs of £85.

Magistrates said he was in line to receive a custodial sentence of up to 12 months had it not have been for his guilty plea.

 

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