A MAN has been spared jail and a fine and handed a conditional discharge after assaulting a police officer.

Charlie Valentine, of Church View in Bampton, pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates to assault by beating of an emergency worker. The 28-year-old was accused of assaulting the PC on the M40 near Bicester on October 27 this year.

Read more: undercover police will be watching for sex predators

A maximum penalty for assaulting an emergency worker is an unlimited fine and six months in prison.

Today Valentine was given a conditional discharge for 12 months which means if he breaks the law this offence will be considered at the next hearing.

He must pay £21 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.