A drug driver who led police on a high speed chase in the middle of the night has walked free from court.

Liam Betterton, whose girlfriend was in the passenger seat, was more than four times the limit for cannabis when he raced away from officers on a wet, dark night.

But after hearing the 23-year-old had bought the old banger to live in and was only moving it that night because of complaints a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Betterton went through three sets of red lights and reached up to 70mph in a residential 30mph zone as police pursued him.

As he went though a housing estate the car repeatedly left the ground as it went over speed humps and even did a 180 degrees turn when the driver lost control.

And the chase only came to an end when officers threw a stinger device in from of the S-reg Vauxhall Omega to bring it to a halt in Blunsdon.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how police spotted the at Tesco on Ocotal Way on Saturday August 12.

When officers tried to stop the vehicle it sped away towards the Transfer Bridges heading up to the Moonrakers roundabout.

It continued north to Lady Lane, then in to the new Tadpole Lane housing estate where officers in another car stopped it by throwing the bed of nails in front of it.

When he was arrested officers smelled cannabis on him and a drug test found he was four times the limit for driving.

He told them that his 'ADHD had kicked in' and he held his hands up to not having a licence.

"He said he was never going to drive again and he was going to stick to the banger track," Miss Squire said.

Bettereton, of The Foyer, Bath Road, admitted dangerous driving, drug driving, failing to stop, no insurance, no MOT and driving without a licence.

Karen Fowler, a probation officer, said the defendant had told her he bought the car for £100 to live in.

She said he had parked up on Cartsairs Avenue, Park South, and stayed there for three to four months, only ever starting it to keep warm.

But after threats from residents she said he decided to move it to the Moredon area, stopping at the supermarket on the way.

He told her he was trying to get into work with a parcel delivery firm and was currently receiving just over £900 a month in benefits and living in the hostel.

"He tells me he only smokes cannabis as he has ADHD and it helps him to stay calm in situations where he would get angry," she said.

Richard Williams, defending, said his client was now in stable accommodation and in a new relationship.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said "When I first read these papers I took the view that an immediate prison sentence was unavoidable.

"That was my view until I heard from the probation service today. I have seen you in the dock as well.

"I have come to the conclusion that this is a case where the custodial sentence does not need to be started immediately."

He imposed an eight month jail term suspended for two years with 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, 250 hours of unpaid work and a two year ban with an extended test.