A FATHER-OF-TWO who punched a landlady at a pub near Chard before embarking on a 23-mile reckless drunken drive across South Somerset has been spared jail.

Lee Symons, 24, had been drinking for several hours at the Ye Olde Poppe Inn in Tatworth before a fight broke out at around 9.30pm on April 18, Taunton Crown Court heard on Friday.

Prosecuting, William Hunter, said Symons and another man were fighting on the floor of the pub when a third man tried to separate them and was thrown into a mirror by Symons, causing it to smash.

Symons then punched the landlady of the pub, Danni Bosence, as he attempted to get past her to leave the pub. The court heard how Symons then got into his car, drove into the pub wall, before putting his car into reverse towards the landlady causing her to take drastic action to move out of the way.

At 9.46pm, Symons drove “erratically” on the A358, causing a police car to take evasive action as he strayed on to the wrong side of the road.

Symons joined the Ilminster bypass, and his car was followed by an off-duty police officer.

Mr Hunter said Symons was travelling at around 80mph using both lanes of the A358, overtaking erratically, before he crossed the Cartgate roundabout at 90mph, straddling both lanes to keep the vehicle on the road.

Symons was stopped by the off-duty police officer when he flashed his blue lights close to the Podimore roundabout. Officers found him to be nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Defending, Harry Ahuja said Symons was a family man who lived in rented accommodation with his partner and their two young children, and was committed to his work as a self-employed bricklayer.

He said Symons stopped his vehicle as soon as he realised a police car was following him.

Mr Ahuja said even though Symons “barely remembers” the incident he acknowledges that alcohol is “an issue” for him.

Symons, of High Street, Wincanton, was charged with common assault, criminal damage, dangerous driving and driving while over the drinkdrive limit.

Miss Recorder Rosaleen Collins handed Symons a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid community work, £100 compensation to Danni Bosence and a £100 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for three years and will be required to re-take his driving test.

The Recorder told him: “It was a miracle noone was hurt. Nobody who had been drinking for the afternoon and part of the evening should have gone anywhere near their car.

“I can’t treat you as a man of good character, but you have a young family, and your character references speak highly of you that you are polite, pleasant, kind and caring.

“This is taking a chance on you because the damage a custodial sentence would have on your personal life would have been significant – that’s why we’ve decided to suspend the sentence.”