A POLICEMAN was injured as he tried to arrest struggling drink-driver Michael Carr in the early hours of New Year s Day. Police had found Carr in the driver s seat of a Volvo as a female passenger was hanging out of the door to be sick. After failing a br

A POLICEMAN was injured as he tried to arrest struggling drink-driver Michael Carr in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Police had found Carr in the driver's seat of a Volvo as a female passenger was hanging out of the door to be sick.

After failing a breath test Carr - who had lost his job that day -- refused to get into a police van, because he wanted to see his friend. He swore and went rigid.

"Two officers held his arms to gain control, he tensed up as they tried to take him to the floor," Ely magistrates heard from prosecutor Laura Mardell.

"PC Humble put Carr into a head lock and the three of them went to the floor, and Carr tried to get up."

Police put a hood over Carr's face to disorientate him, and he was handcuffed.

"Officers told Carr they would assist his friend, but needed to put him in the van," she explained. Carr later gave a breath test reading of almost three times the legal alcohol limit.

PC Kevin Humble suffered injuries to a hand and knee, said Ms Mardell.

Carr, 28, of Field End, Witchford, admitted drink-driving in Walsingham Way, Ely on January 1, and resisting PC Humble.

"I want to apologise to the officers involved, and for putting people on the road at risk," he told the court.

Representing the probation service, Maxine Bailey said Carr had been to New Year's party that evening, and decided to drive a friend home when she was ill.

Carr was banned from driving for 26 months. He must perform 240 hours of unpaid work, be supervised by the probation service and pay �75 compensation and �85 costs.