AN Upton man who admitted escaping from a police car when an officer was diverted to deal with a fight has been fined £500.

Christopher Percival, of Hill View Gardens, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court last Thursday (April 7) to escaping lawful custody on February 20.

Simon Burns, prosecuting, said 24-year-old Percival had been arrested in Bishop's Cleeve, Cheltenham, in the early hours of the morning for drink driving.

"He was being driven back to the police station and unfortunately for the officer a fight was happening in the street and he got out of the car telling the defendant to stay where he was.

"He simply got out of the vehicle and walked home. There was no effort to escape in terms of breaking out of somebody's grasp.

"He was found at his parents house at 5.30am, where interestingly he handed over his handcuffs that weren't on tight enough."

Mr Burns added that Percival was over the limit when breathalysed but when eventually re-tested was clear and that he had been convicted of drink driving before.

Giles Nelson, defending, entered no plea of mitigation after agreeing with Judge Jamie Tabor's suggestion of sentence.

The judge told Percival that many people would consider him lucky that he escaped a three year driving ban.

"It should ring warning bells in your head that you should not drink and drive at all," he said.

"You took advantage of the situation but you must not ever do it again and to help you remember that I am fining you £500.

"If you don't pay it within four months you will be sent to prison for 28 days."

Percival was also ordered to pay £100 costs.