A drink-driver who reversed into a police car while four times the legal alcohol limit has escaped jail.

Prosecutor David Garnett said officers had parked their vehicle in Stuart Road, Acomb, York, and got out at about 6.25pm on February 26.

As they watched from the pavement, Raymond Brian Thompson, 39, who had parked a van nearby, reversed into their car. A breath test revealed he had 147 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Thompson, of Middleton Road, Acomb, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. York Magistrates Court heard he had no previous convictions.

Leeds-based District Judge Kitson decided not to jail him after reading a pre-sentence report.

He said he had seriously considered locking him up because the alcohol reading was so high.

But Thompson had taken steps to deal with his use of alcohol since the collision and had shown genuine remorse.

Thompson was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order with a condition to attend a course aimed at stopping him drink-driving in future. He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £70 costs.

Craig Sutcliffe, for Thompson, handed in two character references and said the driving ban would inconvenience Thompson's family as well as himself.

Updated: 15:01 Thursday, March 27, 2003