A drink-driving martial arts enthusiast swung a punch at a PC after his car was stopped and then forced traffic to brake by running into unlit lanes on the busiest road across North Wales, a court heard.

Richard Dixon, 43, of Bryniau Road, Llandudno, formerly of Colwyn Heights, received a three-month suspended jail term after a string of offences. Magistrates at Llandudno also imposed the minimum twelve-month driving ban and told him he could reduce this by taking a drink-drivers’ course.

Suspending the jail sentence for 18 months, court chairman Paul Kinsey told Dixon: ”Count yourself extremely fortunate.” The magistrate warned him not to “laugh” at the court and said: "Treat this as an opportunity.”

The defendant must undergo alcohol treatment and attend a building better relationships course.

Dixon, who had been remanded in custody previously, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath-alcohol count of 52 on September 13 on the A55 at Llanddulas and careless driving. The legal limit is 35.

He also admitted assaulting PC Michael Gray and four offences of resisting officers. He must pay £250 compensation in all to the four officers. The court chairman said: "Those officers could have been killed that night.”

In addition, he has to pay £150 compensation after being found guilty following a trial of common assaults on his partner and her friend at a Colwyn Bay flat in August.

Prosecutor James Neary said Dixon had been at the wheel of a Peugeot car last month which had been swerving on the A55. After he got out of the car, a HGV had to brake heavily to avoid a collision. Officers drew their Tasers but they wouldn’t work because of his jacket.

An officer hit him with a baton and Dixon was pulled from the carriageway and kept on the ground until a suitable police vehicle arrived.

“All of this happened in the dark on the A55, the busiest road through North Wales, when traffic was moving to and from Holyhead port,” the prosecutor remarked. The defendant had been on bail, Mr Neary added.

Graham Parry, defending, said Dixon had been driving from Rhyl and was now grateful to the police officers for possibly saving his life and sorry for the trouble. The earlier assaults were subject of a trial but he accepted pushing both women.

The court chairman told Dixon he hadn’t tended to do what was required of him when he received an alternative to custody previously. He also escaped paying costs because of the amount of money already owed to the court.