A CREWKERNE driver who crashed his car with a young child in the front then became abusive to a passer-by and assaulted him.

Following the collision with two parked cars, a witness found Wayne Best staggering around, slurring his words and being aggressive while the child was still inside the car.

Best turned on the witness and threw several punches at him, grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against a window.

When the police arrived they arrested Best, who appeared unable to communicate.

At the police station he refused to take the breathalyser after being suspected of drinking.

Best, 41, of Ashlands Close, appeared before District Judge Angela Brereton at Yeovil Magistrates' Court.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a child aged under seven, assaulting David Thompson by beating him, driving without insurance and a licence and failing to provide a specimen of breath on January 6.

The court heard the witness beeped his horn at Best and approached him after he had collided with two parked vehicles.

“Best would not engage with him and he was randomly mumbling and there was also a young child aged around four in the front seat of the car so the police were called,” said prosecutor Ann Ellery.

“Best became aggressive, got out of his vehicle and was staggering and slurring his words and then another male, David Thompson, approached the defendant who started throwing punches towards him.

“He then grabbed the victim by the throat and pushed him against a window, but fortunately no injury was caused.

The two witnesses wrestled Best to the ground and when the police arrived Best was slurring his words and could not communicate properly.

He was taken to the police station where he refused a breath test and became abusive.

The following day he admitted driving after drinking a small amount of vodka but did not recall details of the incident.

Sam Morton, defending, said there was substantial mitigation in the case but said a full report would need to be prepared by the Probation Service before Best could be sentenced.

He said: “Alcohol is clearly an issue and he will need to be assessed for an alcohol treatment programme.

The case was adjourned until March 7 for a pre-sentence report and Best was released on unconditional bail and given an interim driving ban.