Northumberland man admits dangerous driving after high speed police pursuit between Alnwick and Shilbottle

Barry Wright, of Grangemoor Road in Widdrington, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared at Berwick Magistrates’ Court.

The 46-year-old also pleaded guilty to drink driving, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance.

Magistrates heard the offences happened in the early hours of January 15.

James Long, prosecuting, said a police officer was at the Esso garage on South Road in Alnwick around 3am and saw the defendant swerve away from the entrance.

The court heard that PC White went in search of the vehicle and spotted it on South Road. He pulled it over but the defendant then sped off.

Magistrates were then shown CCTV footage of a police pursuit along the back road between Alnwick and Shilbottle.

"He enters Shilbottle Road and takes the new roundabout on the wrong side,” said Mr Long. “He then takes a traffic island on the wrong side.

"It’s a very rural and windy, twisty road with a 60mph speed limit. The patrol car was in speeds of excess of 70mph and 80mph to try and catch up with the defendant’s vehicle.”

The court heard the defendant then drove across a T-junction and came to a stop where he ran into a field and was caught by police officers.

He provided a positive breath test of 48mg alc in 100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Magistrates called for pre-sentence reports and probation officer Claire Jones explained that the defendant was going through a number of serious personal issues at the time.

"He felt his family life was out of control but accepts he should never have behaved in this manner,” she told magistrates.

Ian O’Rourke, in mitigation, added: “Rarely have I come across anyone with more remorse than this defendant. I think he has been very shocked at seeing the manner of his driving.”

Magistrates noted it was a prolonged period of dangerous driving during which he had ignored the rules of the road.

"Fortunately it was a quiet time of night and there was little traffic,” they added.

He was given a 12 month community order with 300 hours unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay £199.