AN ILLEGAL immigrant who assaulted a policewoman after he was caught with more than 5kg of cannabis has been jailed for two years and a month.

Denis Bajraktari also had fake ID and was carrying two metal baseball bats when he was pulled over in a hire car near Hackpen Hill.

When he realised officers would find his cargo, worth almost £40,000, in the Audi’s boot he made a break for it, assaulting the PC as he went.

Now the 24-year-old, who has no right to live in the UK, has been jailed and faces deportation back to Albania when he has completed the prison sentence.

Neil King, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how police first spotted the car in Royal Wootton Bassett on January 2.

They followed it along the A4361, pulling it over between Hackpen Hill and Winterbourne Bassett.

The defendant produced a Portuguese driving licence and though he remembered the name on it he kept getting the date of birth wrong.

As the officers could smell cannabis they decided to search the vehicle.

Mr King said “The offender tried to make a break for it. He shoved PC Rebecca Diamon to one side in order to do so.

“The reason he was running was made plain by the search of the boot. Inside was a large laundry style bag in which were six vacuum packed bags, one of which had 800 grams written on it.

“This proved to be cannabis. A total of 5.8kg with an estimated commercial value of £23,200-£34,800.”

In the lining of the boot they also found two metal baseball bats as well as the fake document.

Bajraktari, who gave an address in London and needed an Albanian interpreter, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply.

He also admitted having an offensive weapon, possessing false ID with improper intention and assaulting an emergency worker.

Colin McCarraher, defending, said “This 24-year-old with no previous convictions is not the brains behind this.

“Those higher up do not drive around with bags with up to £40,000 worth of cannabis in the boot.

“The assault on an emergency worker, and a woman to boot, appears to be nothing more than a shove as he was trying to get away.”

He said his client had been living hand to mouth after coming to the UK having failed an agricultural course in Albania and had no other convictions.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said “Driving around with £30,000 worth of cannabis suggests a significant financial gain.

“The officer is obviously quite phlegmatic and quite robust mentally because she has not made a great deal of the fact that you assaulted her.

“But assaulting police officers whilst they are carrying out their duties on behalf of the public is a serious business: particularly when you have just been stopped with 6kg of cannabis in you car, two weapons and a false document.

“Whilst the assault itself was minor the court treats assaults on police officers extremely seriously.”