A DISQUALIFIED motorist who drove down a city centre street in the wrong direction before assaulting a female police officer has been locked up.
Matthew Harding, 24, was being chased by police after he refused to take a breath test during the early hours of New Year's Day.
He had earlier been spotted on CCTV driving "like an idiot" up and down Beverley Road before he was discovered by police parked up outside a Turkish food store.
When he was asked to supply a sample of his breath, Harding drove off at speed towards the city centre.
After turning into Freetown Way on the wrong side of the road, Harding crashed into a wall.
But instead of giving himself up, the east Hull man made a desperate attempt to run away.
Extra officers were deployed by Humberside Police before Harding was eventually arrested at 5.47am – 17 minutes after he had first been confronted by officers on Beverley Road.
But while in the police van on the way to Clough Road Police Station, Harding kicked the cage he was being held behind, which struck a female police officer in the face.
Prosecuting at Hull Magistrates' Court, Waseem Raja said: "Mr Harding had been seen by a number of members of the public and on CCTV to be driving in an erratic manner up and down Beverley Road during the early hours of New Year's Day.
"Following calls to the police, two officers were deployed and found the defendant in his car outside a Turkish food store at about 5.30am. The engine was still running and Mr Harding was alone.
"Immediately, the officers could smell intoxicants on the defendant and asked him to step out of the car so they could conduct a breath sample test.
"All of a sudden, Mr Harding rushed off in the car and headed for the city centre."
Police chased Mr Harding's car before he crashed into the wall and fled.
Mr Raja said: "He was eventually caught by officers but others had to be deployed to help with the arrest.
"When he was finally taken in the police van he kicked out at the cage which, itself, hit the police constable in the face.
"She cried out in pain and suffered minor bruising to her face."
Harding pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, failing to supply a sample of breath and assaulting a police officer.
In mitigation, Robin Smith said: "There is not really a lot I can do on Mr Harding's behalf.
"He deserves credit for pleading guilty.
"But more than anything he knows he has let his family down. His mum and girlfriend are in court with him today.
"He knows he should not have been driving because he had no licence.
"He has asked me to apologise today – in particular to the female police officer.
"He recklessly kicked out at the cage inside the police van.
"It is not a good start to the new year for Mr Harding or indeed his family.
"This has been tough for him and he is sorry."
Harding's mother and girlfriend wept in the public gallery as he was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail.
The defendant sat in the dock wearing a dark polo shirt, which had been ripped across the left shoulder area.
Passing sentence, Deputy District Judge Sam Goozee said: "This act is clear evidence of a breach of court orders.
"You deliberately did not give a sample of your breath to police officers. I believe that was because you were hiding a lot of alcohol consumption.
"I would have considered a suspended prison sentence but you have a habit of breaking rules."
Harding was also ordered to pay £80 in compensation to the injured police officer.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Crime news for Hull and East Yorkshire
