A DRINK DRIVER who 'virtually wrote off' his dad's van in a 90mph police chase, and was found hiding in a tree, has been spared a immediate jail term.

Clyde Morris, 23, smashed in to a 'no entry' sign after speeding away from police at more than 90mph following a night out on the town.

Morris was tracked down by a police sniffer dog hiding nine feet up a tree with his brother after abandoning the vehicle.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the Mercedes van was spotted by police near the Moonrakers on Cricklade Road on Saturday, April 25.

At first they thought it went past too fast so they followed and, seeing it being driven erratically, tried to pull it over.

But the vehicle went through a red light at Groundwell and up to the A419 heading north at about 90mph.

The following patrol car then had a blow out, forcing it to pull over, but another police vehicle joined the pursuit.

At the Fairford junction the officers saw a road sign had been collided with and what looked like fresh debris, including a wind mirror, was found.

Soon after the Sprinter van was found abandoned on the southbound carriageway of the duel carriageway and a dog handler was called in.

"They found this defendant and another about nine feet up a tree in a thicket not far from where the vehicle had been abandoned," he said.

"Both were ordered to come down and arrested. It was clear they had been drinking. This defendant was quite unpleasant with the police at the time of his arrest. He had to be dealt with quite robustly."

When he was questioned after sobering up he said he had been out with his brother drinking and got into the van to drive home.

Morris, of Four Acre Caravan Site in South Cerney, also admitted dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of breath and obstructing a police officer.

The court heard he had previous for theft, burglary, criminal damage, assault and other motoring matters.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said it had not been a good year for his client who has got into trouble a number of times for petty offending.

"He had been drinking with his brother in town, they had borrowed the family van. He lives on a site," he said.

"That van has been virtually written off. It was only a five-year-old van, so his father who is the registered keeper was not best pleased with that. Of course there was no insurance.

"This was a man who acted on impulse, alcohol is a factor, alcohol was a factor in all the offences for which he has been before the courts.

"Yes, he had far too much to drink and wasn't able to control the van and had a collision with the 'no entry' sign."

But he said he had done well on the unpaid work imposed for other offences and could be punished in the community with a curfew.

Judge Peter Blair QC said: "I read in the report from the probation service that it is a good news story as you have been complying well with the orders imposed by the magistrates earlier this year.

"I am not going to stop that. I am not going to send you immediately to prison today but suspend it so it is hanging over your head."

He imposed a 39 week sentence suspended for 18 months, with a night time curfew and rehabilitation order, and banned him from the road for 18 months and until he has passed an extended test.

Morris must also pay £1,000 in victim surcharge and criminal courts charge.