A FORMER Kilwinning pub owner who admitted careless driving and assaulting a police officer has dodged a jail sentence.

Charles Dynes, 59, committed the offences on July 31, 2013 and January 13, 2014 respectively.

Dynes used to own The Claremont Hotel and The Lemon Tree pub in Kilwinning.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard how the first offence occurred in a cul-de-sac in Bath Square, Ardrossan.

The court heard that a witness saw Dynes driving his car and decided to follow him due to the manner of his driving.

Dynes was said to be stopping for no apparent reason and the man feared Dynes was an elderly driver experiencing ill health.

When Dynes eventually stopped his car, the man decided to walk towards Dynes’ vehicle.

He saw the car’s driver door was open and witnessed Dynes attempting to reverse and leave the cul-de-sac.

Concerned for Dynes’ wellbeing, the man tried to block his path.

But Dynes drove into the man’s vehicle prompting the witness to state he would be phoning the police.

Whilst fleeing the scene, Dynes struck another vehicle before leaving the street.

On the January 31 charge, Dynes was detained in relation to another matter.

When advised that he would be arrested, an irate Dynes punched one of the officers to the chest.

He was taken hold of but engaged in what was described by the procurator fiscal as a “significant” struggle with the officers.

Dynes pulled away with his arms tensed in order to prevent handcuffs being applied.

He was eventually detained and was not cautioned or charged due to his aggressive state.

Dynes, formerly of Pathfoot, Kilwinning, but now of Mitchell Avenue, Renfrew, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court from custody having pled guilty at an earlier date.

John McCluskey, defending, told presiding Sheriff Derek Livingston that Dynes had been remanded for 47 days in relation to the offence.

The court heard how Mr McCluskey claimed that Dynes’ wife said she had been dealing with different organisations to deal with Dynes’ alcohol abuse. He claimed that she was keen for Dynes to come and live with her as a “last chance”.

Mr McCluskey told the court that as a result of the hotel and pub going under, Dynes ran into financial difficulties which caused his alcohol misuse to spiral out of control.

He added that prior to being remanded, Dynes was involved with electrical work and would often worked abroad for weeks at a time.

Mr McCluskey insisted that Dynes had sought help for his drinking before the offence occurred and “seems genuine” about moving on with his life.

When passing sentence, Sheriff Livingston said: “I am prepared to deal with these matters in a non custodial manner.

I take the view this was a bad piece of careless driving and you were previously disqualified.

“It seems to me you clearly are a danger on the road to others.” Dynes was sentenced to two years supervision, ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for nine months as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.