A Calne man who sped away from a children's play centre as a policeman leaned in through the window of his Range Rover has been spared jail.

Andrew Townsend assaulted the constable who had been trying to arrest him by speeding away, leaving the officer with an injured shoulder.

After hearing the 50-year-old was full of remorse for what he had done a judge at Swindon Crown Court imposed a community order.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said on March 31 police had been called to the Boomerang soft play centre in Bowerhill, Melksham.

When they got to the Merlin Way establishment they wanted to speak to Townsend, who was sitting outside in his large black 4x4.

"They suspected that he may have committed an offence. They spoke to him. He was angry: he was irate. He said can you contact me another time," Mr Meeke said.

"He simply wasn't prepared to stay around and talk to the police. He was getting more and more angry.

"They then received a formal complaint of assault against him and decided he should be arrested."

As an officer got out his handcuffs and leaned in through the window Townsend placed his arm across his chest.

"The officer thought he was going to be struck, he leaned in further, the defendant then accelerated at speed while the constable's torso was still in the vehicle.

"He leapt back, his shoulder was struck by the door pillar."

Mr Meeke said the Range Rover was driven along the kerb on the inside of another car as it sped off on Merlin Way, as the officer shouted for it to stop.

They caught up with it on Lancaster Way, where Townsend then went with officers but they had more trouble from other people.

When he was questioned he apologised profusely for his behaviour describing it as a 'moment of madness'.

Townsend, of Abberd Way, Calne, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting an officer with intent to resist arrest.

The court heard he had previous convictions for assaulting police, criminal damage and drink-driving.

Tony Bignall, defending, said it was a short piece of bad driving and his client returned to the scene, rather than fleeing.

Although it was near a children's play centre there were no youngsters seen on the CCTV of the incident, he said.

Passing sentence Judge Jason Taylor QC said "You are 50 and quite frankly you should know better.

"You summed it up perfectly by saying it was a moment of madness. Unfortunately this is not the first time you have been in trouble."

He imposed a community order with 200 hours of unpaid work, 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement, £2,000 compensation and £600 costs as well as banning Townsend from the road for a year and until he has passed an extended test.