A Vale motorist arrested by police broke free and ran into woods after being sprayed with CS gas, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Billy Smith, who had his pregnant wife and 10-month-old daughter in the car, had been stopped because of an outstanding warrant for an insurance offence. The officer failed to find him, but he handed himself in at Worcester police station three weeks later, said Abigail Nixon, prosecuting.

Smith, aged 29, of Hunters Lodge, Cleeve Prior, near Evesham, pleaded guilty to escape on the day he was due to face trial by jury.

Recorder Barbara Carter told him all sentencing options - including custody - were open. She granted him bail for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Smith was stopped at night on October 11 last year in Bidford-on-Avon.

A struggle broke out and he was sprayed before he ran away, said Miss Nixon. The insurance offence had been dealt with by another court.

David Mason, defending, said Smith was unaware of the warrant and became frightened after the gas was sprayed into his face.

His wife had been scared the fumes might affect her unborn baby. She complained to Evesham police who dealt with it. Mr Mason queried why it had taken nine months for police to execute the warrant on Smith.