A young man who offered to supply an undercover police officer with drugs at Reading Festival before jumping into a river to try to escape, was spared jail yesterday. 

Homeless Zachary Russell offered to supply a policewoman amphetamines whilst he was riding his bike at the Reading Festival site this year, a judge heard.

Russell, aged 28 years and of no fixed abode, was convicted of possessing a sharp pointed article in a public place and offering to supply amphetamines.

Prosecutor Hassan Baig said: "This happened on August 21 of this year at around 8pm - it was during the time of the Reading Festival and it was on the towpath beside the River Thames and the festival site."

The court heard that an undercover police officer was approached by a man on a bicycle who offered to supply her with amphetamines.

The officer flagged down two other police officers, and they pursued the defendant on bicycles.

Russell jumped into the River Thames and was later apprehended.

A pair of scissors were found in his bag, along with 'drug deals bags' and a burner phone.

When interviewed, Russell said he had found the scissors on the towpath.

Olivia English, defence counsel for Russell, told the judge at Reading Crown Court yesterday that Russell would sometimes live on a boat owned by his mother but it was fair to call him homeless.

Judge Keith Cutler sentenced Russell to an 18-month community order, a drug rehabilitation requirement of nine months, 12 sessions of a mental health treatment requirement over 18 months and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.