A "lunatic" driver who did a series of handbrake turns on the M62 and then attacked a police officer sent to arrest him has escaped a jail sentence.
Marc Kirk drove towards oncoming traffic on the motorway near Rochdale in Greater Manchester after having an argument with his girlfriend.
CCTV footage shows other vehicles slam on their brakes as Kirk, 20, does a U-turn and a handbrake turn in the middle of the carriageway.
He then speeds back to the hard-shoulder and carries out a second handbrake turn, leaving the car again facing on-coming traffic.
Manchester Crown Court heard that when a passing patrol car stopped Kirk, he repeatedly punched an officer in the face and the pair ended up rolling across the hard-shoulder.
Kirk was arrested and later admitted dangerous driving and assault.
Kirk was called 'lunatic' by a judge
He has previous convictions for drink-driving and disorderly behaviour, but was given a two-year conditional discharge because he is about to start a new job in Ireland.
Judge Clement Goldstone said the job meant that Kirk would not be able to carry out any community punishment in the UK.
He said: "I cannot impose such a requirement in this case because you are not going to be here to fulfil it and I'm not going to set you up to fail."
He added he would otherwise have handed down a suspended six-month-sentence in a young offenders' institution.
Kirk was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended test before he returns to the roads.
He was ordered to pay £1,800 in compensation to the officer and court costs.
