A trained Tae Kwon Do martial artist who represents Bermuda in international tournaments was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay fines for assaulting Police.

Joshan Thomas, 21, of Warwickshire Drive, in Warwick, pleaded guilty to six counts of traffic offences and two counts of assaulting Police when he appeared in Magistrates Court yesterday.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said Police attempted to stop Thomas after they saw him disobeying a traffic sign at the junction of Kyber Pass and Middle Road, in Warwick. Following him for some time, the Police then forced Thomas to stop near the Four Ways restaurant on Middle Road, Paget. There, officers attempted to talk to Thomas but he refused to turn off his motorcycle.

Thomas then accelerated his bike hitting and knocking one of the officers to the ground before making a u-turn and elbowing the other officer in the face causing him to lose balance.

The officers chased Thomas as he headed west on Middle Road. When they caught up and informed him he was under arrest, Thomas stopped his motorcycle and ran down a footpath towards a Warwick residence.

There, he once again resisted arrest fighting with the officers. After a struggle, pepper spray was used to subdue him.

Thomas was eventually taken to Hamilton Police Station where he received treatment for the effects of the pepper spray. The extent of the officers' injuries is unknown.

Thomas is a trained Tae Kwon Do martial artist who represents Bermuda in international tournaments, he is also a volunteer Bermuda Regiment soldier.

He held his head down and fought back tears as he stood before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner. With his mother at his side he apologised to the court and blamed his actions on being frightened.

"Your honour, I am sorry," Thomas said. "I was afraid and scared I have never done nothing like that before. I am sorry and I ask for forgiveness. I just ran, I wasn't thinking. I am sorry, I could have hurt the Police officer, myself or others I was a fool."

Thomas' mother, who stood beside him throughout the hearing, said: "My son has never got into trouble before. He is Christian, we are Christian people and we are sorry."

Mr. Warner, citing Thomas' experience with martial arts and the Regiment, said he did not accept his excuse of being frightened.

"Martial arts is supposed to teach discipline in using force, correct?" asked Mr. Warner. "This is not a case of a young boy being scared you should have known better. I don't accept that you were scared, there was nothing to be scared of."

He fined Thomas a total of $2,625 for the eight offences and handed him three 30-day prison sentences suspended for 24 months.