literally.

He hit a patrol car as it tried to make him pull over, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

Officers spotted Fox driving dangerously -- swerving from side to side and continually crossing the centre line, said prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy. They also noticed his car had damage to the front from an accident.

Fox failed to pull over when the officers put on their siren and flashing light, the court heard. So they overtook him and drove in front of his car, attempting to make him stop.

Instead, said Insp. Duffy, Fox hit the back of the Police car, causing a minor impact. He eventually stopped but was abusive and refused to give a breath test.

Fox, 28, of Camp Hill Road, Warwick, admitted driving on Middle Road while impaired, driving an unlicensed car and fraudulently using a licence sticker.

He apologised to the court, saying he had been "naive''.

"It was something I was stupid enough to do. I didn't realise the state I was in when I left to go home from the job's party.'' He said the sticker was on a second-hand windscreen that had been fitted.

Senior magistrate the Wor. Will Francis banned him from driving all vehicles for a year and fined him $750.

Terrance W. Fleming, who said he had driven "a million miles'' without an offence, also fell victim to Christmas cheer.

Police went to a road accident on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish, at 9.30 p.m. on December 18.

An intermediate truck, driven by Fleming, had been in a collision with a car.

Fleming told the officers he had been trying to avoid a pedestrian. A breath test revealed 176 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his blood -- more than twice the legal limit.

Fleming, 45, of Tribe Road, Devonshire, apologised to the court. He said he had been "caught up in the season''.

He had been driving for 24 years, or about a million miles, and this was his first offence. He needed a licence for his job, he added.

Mr. Francis banned him for a year and fined him $450.