A drunk motorist who had his young son in his car when he reversed into another vehicle and fled - and then offered the driver £1,000 not to call the police - has been spared jail.

Rafal Kucharski was twice the legal drink-drive limit when he was finally stopped in Milton Road, Gravesend, having been followed for several miles by the man whose car he had crashed into.

His driving, Maidstone Crown Court heard, was later described as erratic and his four-year-old son did not appear to have been strapped into any seating device.

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As well as hitting David Noyes's car, the landscape gardener, of Leander Drive, Gravesend, also mounted an embankment.

It was when Mr Noyes caught up with him as he sat in traffic that Kucharski offered him the money with the words: "Come on boss, will you take £1,000 and not call the police?"

VIDEO: Drink-driver Rafal Kucharski has been spared jail.

But officers were alerted and Kucharski, who remained at the scene, later gave a reading of 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The father-of-two admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice and drink-driving in October last year. An offence of being drunk in charge of a child was not proceeded with.

But despite highlighting that "a car in the hands of a drink-driver is a potentially lethal weapon", Judge Jeremy Carey said he could "just spare" him an immediate spell behind bars by reason of the fact effective punishment was available within the community.

He added this would enable the 34-year-old, who came to the UK 10 years ago, to be "less of a burden" on the state and continue working to support his family.

Judge Carey imposed six months' imprisonment suspended for 15 months, with an order to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work, a £300 fine and a 17-month driving ban.

"Come on boss, will you take £1,000 and not call the police?" - Kucharski, to Mr Noyes

The judge said: "I accept your counsel's submission that although cases of perverting the course of justice are serious, this one arose from an impulsive act on your part. Not only was it of very short duration but it was not premeditated."

Mr Noyes, whose son was able to take Kucharski's keys from his ignition, was praised by Judge Carey as being "commendably responsible".

Referring to the monetary offer, he told Kucharski: "Mr Noyes rightly saw that the offer was wrong, and wrong on two counts. Wrong of you to suggest it and wrong that it should happen."

Prosecutor Danny Moore said Mr Noyes decided to follow Kucharski after becoming concerned by his driving manner in Station Road, Southfleet.

It was at the junction with Green Street Green Road in Darenth that Kucharski reversed three to four metres into Mr Noyes's car.

"There was a very minor collision," said Mr Moore. "The defendant drove away and Mr Noyes followed him because of what had happened."

The court was told Kucharski was followed for up to 10 miles. His barrister, John Fitzgerald, said the monetary offer was a "very brief, if somewhat panicked" crime.

He added that Kucharski had been drinking a "homebrew potion" brought to the UK by his father-in-law and which was "a great deal stronger" than he expected.

Mr Fitzgerald said: "He doesn't make a habit of drinking and driving and certainly not with his son in the vehicle."