A MOTORIST drove a car without one of its tyres before punching a policeman in the face.

Karl McCarthy was stopped by officers on January 6 this year after they spotted his Vauxhall Astra grinding along the road on one of its rims.

The car had no tyre on its front passenger side as it drove along Bloxham Road and South Bar Street in the centre of Banbury.

As he was about to be arrested, the 34-year-old driver punched Pc Matthew Oaten and ran off. He was eventually arrested after a further struggle.

McCarthy, of Nethercote Road, Tackley, was convicted of a string of offences at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday.

He had represented himself during the trial after sacking his barrister.

The jury found him guilty of dangerous driving, assault with intent to resist arrest and causing actual bodily harm.

A four-foot-long fencing sword was found in McCarthy’s car but he was cleared of having an article with a blade or point.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on June 11.