A POLICE officer was forced off the road by a colleague as he attempted to drive onto the A66 in the wrong direction, a court had heard.

Paul Webster got behind the wheel of his white Vauxhall Corsa after drinking while he was playing a gig in a Middlesbrough town centre pub.

The off-duty trainee officer was spotted heading in the wrong direction as he drove towards the A66 from the Hartington interchange.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 38-year-old ignored the marked police car's blue lights and attempted to reverse off the sliproad.

His actions caused the officer to use his own vehicle to block his escape and rammed Webster's car off the road.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around midnight on Wednesday, December 18 last year.

"The defendant realised what he had done. With horror on his face, he began to reverse back up the slip road," he said.

"The officer used his car to push the defendant’s car into a crash barrier and force him to stop."

Webster, who worked as a police community support officer at Cleveland Police for 13 years before becoming a trainee police constable, was breathalysed at the scene and was found to be more than two and a half times the drink drive limit.

The court heard how the defendant had a drink while he was performing on stage at the Liquor Vaults in Middlesbrough before the incident.

Webster, of Parklands Avenue, Billingham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.

In mitigation, Kelleigh Lodge, said her client's decision had cost him his career in the police force as the 'shame' had resulted in him quitting his role.

She said: "As a result of committing this offence he felt he couldn’t work in that position anymore and resigned from that position.

"It’s had quite a devastating affect on him. He was a PCSO for 13 years before he became a police constable.

"He has lost his good character now. He now has a conviction on his record."

Judge Stephen Ashurst sentenced Webster to a 12-month community order, banned him from driving for 18 months and ordered him to attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He said: "The effect of your dangerous driving has been to put to an end a very promising career you had in public service.

"Your public downfall is a genuine punishment for you, therefore, there's no need for further punishment today."