A driver jumped from a moving car to avoid arrest, leaving his partner and child inside.

Robert Laidlaw, 26, leapt from his Ford Focus on his way towards Uphall Primary School in West Lothian on Friday, June 10.

Police constable Alan Beattie ran towards the car and was able to stop it by pressing the foot brake with his hand and pulling the handbrake.

Laidlaw pleaded guilty at Livingston Sheriff Court to various driving offences including reckless conduct, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was jailed for eight months and disqualified from driving for ten years.

The incident happened at around 12.30pm on June 10 while uniformed officers were on patrol.

Mr Beattie and constable Scott Ward ran a check on the black Ford Focus, which they discovered was uninsured.

It was tracked to near the Uphall Primary School car park, where Laidlaw jumped out and ran off.

As Mr Beattie stopped the car, Mr Ward chased Laidlaw and detained him after he was found hiding in local gardens.

Chief inspector Stephen Innes, head of road policing for the east, said: "Robert Laidlaw showed a complete disregard for the safety of others, including himself.

"School children, pedestrians and other road users could've easily been hurt due to his behaviour, and it's down to the quick-thinking actions of PC Beattie and PC Ward that no one was injured.

"It is totally unacceptable for anyone to be driving while disqualified and not to mention having no insurance.

"Our officers were simply doing their job, before using their initiative to rescue a situation that could have had tragic consequences."