POLICE were led on a high-speed chase around Pershore in the early hours by a 26-year-old man who committed a series of offences in 12 minutes.

Christopher Durnall was eventually arrested when police put a “stinger” across the road near Drakes Broughton to puncture the tyres of his vehicle.

Durnall pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of breath, taking a vehicle without consent, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.

He was jailed for 15 months and disqualified from driving for three years.

Prosecutor Paul Whitfield said the chase started in the early hours of November 16 when a Mini was seen being driven erratically in the the town centre. Police activated their blue lights and followed the car through a succession of villages.

At times, it reached 70mph in narrow lanes and other drivers had to take avoiding action.

The car had been hot-wired but Durnall denied he was responsible.

He said he had been out with three friends who had broken into the car and had left him in the back seat. He had started to drive in an effort to get home but had been unfamiliar with the roads. 

He had refused to give a breath sample at the police station.

He had four previous convictions to taking vehicles without consent and three for driving without insurance.

Judith Kenny, for Durnall, of Dowty Road, Cheltenham, said he had been out with friends. But they had deserted him and he found himself alone in the vehicle.

He had been binge drinking and had taken the m-kat drug. She felt the incident would be a wake-up call. Durnall had a poor background.

He had been abandoned by his parents in his teens and had taken to sleeping in cars.

He was hoping to get work as a part-time football coach in Cheltenham Judge Michael Cullum said Durnall had committed a raft of offences seemingly within 12 minutes worth of driving.

He had shown no regard for himself and other road users.with his dangerous driving.