A MAN struggled with police only a yard from a busy road, a court was told yesterday.

Magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire heard how 31-year-old Philip Jones visited Ripon Races on August 29 and got so drunk he missed the coach taking his party of family and friends home to Redcar, east Cleveland.

North Yorkshire Police took pity on him as he wandered about seemingly not knowing which way to turn.

They drove him a few miles to the A1 service area at Rainton, North Yorkshire, believing it likely he would be offered a lift from there.

But officers were concerned to see Jones, of Coatham Road, Redcar, walking down a grass verge to the carriageway at a point where there was no hard shoulder and where traffic was only 3ft away.

PC Lorraine Diggins tried to rescue Jones, who had lain down on his back.

But he was soon back beside the northbound lane of the road and this time refused further offers of help from police.

PC Diggins called for assistance as Jones became aggressive, moving towards her and telling her that if she did not leave him alone he would "kick off big-time and you won't know what has hit you".

The court heard police had feared for their lives because of the closeness of the traffic and Jones's demeanour.

They used CS gas and four police officers overpowered him.

Jones pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and two counts of resisting police.

He was made the subject of a 12-month community order with probation supervision and ordered to pay £70 costs.