A SOLDIER based at Hereford has been cleared of attacking a Ministry of Defence policeman who quizzed him over suspected drink-driving.

Griffith Philpott had left a restaurant with friends but two chefs flagged down a patrol car because they feared he was drunk as they watched him walk to a people-carrier parked in the street.

The MOD policemen pulled up behind Mr Philpott at traffic lights near the old Wye bridge in Hereford. They got out to speak to him but he ran off, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant punched officer Sandor Boka on the nose as he caught him up. He needed an operation to straighten it.

But a jury cleared the 43-year-old of assault causing actual bodily harm and found him not guilty of perverting the course of justice by leaving the scene of an investigation.

Most of the case was heard in camera after an application to Judge Michael Mott based on the defendant's military background. The press was unable to report Mr Philpott's evidence from the witness box.

Chef Andrew Treloare told the jury that Mr Philpott, of Little Burlton, Burghill, Hereford, was unable to walk in a straight line when he first spotted him.

He claimed he drove erratically towards the group of people he had been dining with at the restaurant.

Mr Treloare said the police were flagged down because it was feared Mr Philpott would crash on November 18 last year and put lives at risk.

Mr Boka was said to have immediately recognised Mr Philpott who had been in the army ten years.

But after the soldier got out of the vehicle to talk to police his passengers began interfering and he became 'wound up', said Nicolas Cartwright, defending.

The defendant told police he had not believed they were genuine officers. He claimed he was hit on the head with the handcuffs and had pushed one man out of the way.

He said he was scared the MOD officers would 'fit him up' and denied he had been drinking.

But the prosecutor said till receipts from the restaurant showed no soft drinks bought by Mr Philpott's group, only alcohol. He later admitted drinking one pint of beer.