A MOTORIST who drove on to a playing field where a football game was in progress and then hit a police car has escaped custody at Worcester Crown Court.

Judge Frank Chapman decided to be lenient because 21-year-old Leroy Stallard had stopped taking heroin and was trying to cure his drink problem.

Stallard, of Salisbury Drive, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to give a breath specimen.

He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order, disqualified for three years and ordered to pay £100 costs.

He was followed by police on July 9 last year when he was spotted doing a wheel spin in Drake Crescent at 9.15pm, said Adam Western, prosecuting.

His Fiesta did 50mph in a residential area before driving on to the playing field where a dozen youths were playing soccer.

Stallard did a handbrake turn to finish facing the police car.

When they got out of their vehicle, he drove at it, damaging the front bumper and headlamp. He then abandoned his car and ran off but was found hiding nearby.

He gave a breath specimen at the roadside but refused to do it again in the police station.

Mr Western said Stallard had a previous conviction for drink-driving and was jailed for 15 months in October, 2002 for assault and burglary. There were 74 days of the licence period still to serve.

Guy Spollon, defending, said Stallard had made strenuous efforts to combat his drug and drink problems and asked the court to allow the progress to continue.

Judge Chapman said Stallard had driven dangerously in a bid to evade police and was over the drink-drive limit. Custody was deserved but he was giving him a chance.