A driver fleeing the police notched up speeds of up to 90 kph during a dangerous chase ? before his vehicle rolled into a patrol car.

Before hitting the unofficial roadblock, Gregory William Belboda escaped from his moving vehicle but then attacked the inspector who had been pursuing him at high speeds through Warwick. A court heard how Belboda failed to stop for Insp. Nicholas Pedro on South Road in the early hours of August 16.

The pursuit then started and the defendant raced away from the officer down Rocklands Road and onto streets including Ord Road, Middle Road and Cobbs Hill Road.

After failing to slow down for a series of stop signs, the chase finally came to a halt on Sun Valley Road when the defendant got out of his vehicle when it was still moving.

Belboda, who works as a self-employed mechanic, watched as his car slowly rolled into the police vehicle road block before he tried to get away again.

The court heard that when stopped the defendant launched himself at Inspector Pedro and the pair fell to the ground. The 52-year-old defendant was struggling on top, the court heard, and was ?lashing out? in a bid to escape.

He was later arrested when another officer ? fearing for the safety of his colleague ? handcuffed Belboda. Belboda admitted charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He denied assaulting a police officer, but was convicted after a trial.

The defendant, of Vesey Street, Devonshire, was handed a three-month suspended jail term. He was also fined a total of $2,400 for the three offences. He escaped a one-year driving ban after telling the court he needed to pick up cars for work.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said he did not accept the defendant?s claims that he was struck by the Inspector. Belboda had told the court he was kicked in the head and face, but the evidence of Insp. Pedro and another officer contradicted this version of events.

And the magistrate warned the defendant: ?Next time you assault the police, you will be locked up.?