Hartlepool drink-driver led police on 80mph chase after panicking following trip to the shops

Police spotted the Nissan Juke being driven erratically by James Morriarty, 24, on Raby Road, Hartlepool, at about 11.15pm on November 21 last year.

Teesside Crown Court heard he was returning home, where he had been drinking, after going out to the shop.

But Morriarty, who suffers anxiety and other personal difficulties, panicked when he noticed the police behind him.

The police car followed him as he sped off on Easington Road.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said: “Police had to travel at speeds in excess of 90 miles [an hour] to catch up to it.

"The defendant was driving over 80mph on the A179, which is a 40 zone.”

He failed to stop on Westwood Way on the Clavering estate when police put their flashing lights and siren on doing 80mph in a 30mph area.

Mr Pettengell added: “The vehicle was driven through the residential estate veering around a number of traffic calming measures at high speed.

"It was described as showing a lack of control."

Morriarty stopped outside his home and showed signs he had been drinking, the court heard.

A blood test showed he had 154 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mcg.

He admitted dangerous driving and drink driving.

Chris Baker, defending, said in mitigation said Morriarty was genuinely sorry adding: “The officers were obviously put at risk but nobody was harmed because of this driving.

"It was a relatively short distance. He has taken steps to address some of the underlying factors which led to this offending.”

Mr Baker added Morriarty, of Pinewood Close, Hartlepool, who had no previous convictions, had also stopped drinking.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and then must pass an extended retest.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Paul Watson said he accepted Morriarty's anxiety and other personal issues were partly to blame for the way he acted.

But the judge added: “It was a very bad piece of driving.”

Morriarty was also given 16 weeks prison suspended for six months.

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