A drink driver pulled an officer's high vis jacket over his head and punched him in the face after trying to escape in a field following a 101mph police chase through country roads.

Arthur Watts, a self-confessed alcoholic with what a judge described had "appalling" previous convictions, was given an immediate 20-month prison sentence for five offences during the 10-minute incident which included breaking two of the police officer's two ribs.

The 57-year-old of Gromain Lodge, Erwood, near Builth Wells was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday (October 6) after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, driving with alcohol above the limit, driving with no insurance and while disqualified.

His Honour Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Watts that he had no alternative but to send him immediately to prison to "give you time to sober up and dry up".

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Watts was seen driving a silver Renault Clio "erratically and being very intoxicated" on the A470 close to Llyswen in south Powys at around 6.50pm on August 2 this year when a police officer blue lighted him after seeing him "swerving", crossing white lines, braking frequently and tailgating a 4x4 vehicle. He also drove at 60mph through a 30mph zone.

After he was pulled over by police constable Birch, Watts fled. Prosecution barrister Jeffrey Jones told the court that at one stage the police chase involved speeds of up to 101mph along country roads with rural bends and ended along a dirt track near Watts' home.

Mr Jones said: "The defendant got out in a hurry and there was a determined run by him over a wooden field fence and across the field. In the process the police officer bravely pursued him and they both fell shortly after getting over the gate. The defendant resisted and the officer was warning him. The officer grabbed his leg, and the defendant pulled away and pulled the officer's high vis jacket over his head."

The court heard that officer believed he was punched in the face when his head was covered by the jacket.

The officer then used PAVA spray on Watts before placing him in handcuffs just after 7pm.

A breath test at the police station showed Watts had 40 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

PC Birch was taken to two hospitals for fractured ribs and ring finger, and grazes to his knee from the barbed wire fence.

In a victim impact statement, the officer said he had to take six weeks off work, and that the incident had upset his family and young children.

Mr Jones added that Watts told police that he "panicked" when he saw blue lights and the injuries caused to the officer were unintentional. He added that the Crown would call him "deliberate and reckless".

Lee Davies, representing Watts, told the court that: "Nothing good can be said about the driving and he understands that. It was aggravated by reckless driving and that he was over the limit."

Speaking about a probation report which stated that there were no alternative ways of helping Watts, His Honour Judge Jenkins said: "It's simply not possible to put him in a setting where he could actually get help for his addiction. There is no realistic alternative."

"He's clearly well thought of by his family, and when he's sober they say he's a good man," Mr Davies added. "Until he helps himself this may well occur again and the sentences may get longer."

Before sentencing Watts to 20 months in prison and a driving ban of three years and 10 months including a retest, His Honour Judge Jenkins said: "There is no alternative here than an immediate sentence and give you time to sober up and dry up. You know there will be officers in support of you upon your release; it's up to you take that."