A MAN who attacked a drug dealer with an extendable baton after he sold cocaine to his brother has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Daniel Baker was looking for his brother in Andover on March 15, last year, but word had spread that he was searching for Marcus Stacey.

As Mr Stacey, his friend Hayden Evans and two women left a nightclub, Baker pulled up and told Mr Stacey to get into the car, Winchester Crown Court was told on Thursday.

Prosecutor Edward Lewis said: “Mr Stacey did not want to because he was frightened and continued to walk up the road while Mr Baker in his vehicle crawled next to him.”

An eyewitness described said that she was “terrified” as a fight then unfolded in the car park of Andover police station.

In a statement she said: “I heard the revving of the engine of the black Range Rover approaching at high speed and the Range Rover struck Marcus causing him to fly through the air. He landed on the footpath.”

As Mr Evans was walking across the road Baker “pulled forward striking him a glancing blow”.

Mr Lewis said: “Mr Stacey then got up and ran back to Chick-O-Land, believing his nose was broken, then watched Daniel Baker get out of the car and whip out a police extendable baton and hit Mr Evans a number of times on the head and then Baker ran off.”

The court was told that Baker, of Millway Road, did not intentionally mean to hit Mr Stacey with his car.

In mitigation, Robin Sellers said: “The defendant’s brother is somebody who has suffered from substance addiction.

“Marcus Stacey is a drug dealer and the defence statement caused significant disclosure.

“This defendant’s brother had been supplied by Marcus Stacey.”

Mr Sellers said that Baker was not looking for Mr Stacey but was looking for his brother as he had been "sold cocaine by Marcus Stacey”.

He said that a taxi driver has reported that Mr Stacey and Mr Evans were in her car when one of them because “very volatile” and the incident broke out.

Baker pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and having an offensive weapon on the first day of trial in July.

He was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He must complete 20 rehabilitation days, 150 hours unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

The prosecution offered no evidence against a charge of dangerous driving and a not guilty verdict was given.