AN UNLICENSED and wanted motorist who sped away from police in the dead of night at 95mph has walked free from court.

Elton Qerimi, whose car was spraying rubber on the pursuing officers' windscreen, only stopped when the tyre exploded and he hit a grass bank near the Ogbournes.

And the 31-year-old, who had a warrant out on him for careless driving, then ran off following the smash just before 1am on Sunday, January 7.

But a judge imposed a suspended sentence, after hearing Qerimi had feared he would miss the birth of his son if he stopped for police. His son was born more than two months later.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court police saw the Audi A4 with a flat tyre on the forecourt of the Esso in Chiseldon.

One of the officers went over to speak to the Albanian but as he tapped on the window the grey car sped off towards Marlborough.

They gave chase and footage from their dash cam showed Qerimi, who also uses the names Tony Elton and Antonio Luca, doing at least 90mph south on the A346.

As they followed rubber coming away from the flat hit their windscreen and they can be heard commenting the wheel was down to the rim.

Just before crashing into the nearside bank she said the Audi crossed double white lines at speed close to the S-bends near the Ogbournes.

He leapt from the vehicle and ran off into the night but paperwork in the car led police to him and, following an appeal, he as arrested in Maidenhead in May.

When he was questioned he said he panicked when he saw the police as he had missed a court hearing for another driving matter.

Qerimi, of Reading, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, no insurance and not having a licence.

The court heard he had now admitted careless driving and jumping a red light in Slough last September but was awaiting trial for driving while unfit.

Andrew Taylor, defending, said that most of the driving was within the white lines and the only dangerous part was when he decamped.

He said his client 'put himself more in danger than others,' and no injury was caused to anyone and no damage done by his driving.

At the time he said his partner, Emma, was heavily pregnant and gave birth to a son on March 20, more than 10 weeks later.

He said his client takes a major part in child care looking after the baby when she was at work as well as holding down jobs in a car wash and restaurant.

Passing sentence Judge Jason Taylor QC said "This was prolonged, persistent and deliberate driving.

"You had no licence, you had no insurance in place, you were driving with a flat tyre which is clearly dangerous.

"You could hear the officer say in commentary that the car was being driven on a rim. It was on a road with no central barrier. It does not take much imagination to see that any collision could have been fatal.

"After careful consideration I have decided as a matter of mercy to you that I will suspend the sentence of imprisonment."

He imposed six months suspended for 18 months with 250 hours of unpaid work, 10 days rehabilitation activity requirement, a six month curfew and banned him from the road for 18 months and until he passes an extended test.

Following the conviction, PC Will Ayres said: “Qerimi failed to stop for officers whilst travelling on the A346 in a vehicle which shed its tyre during the pursuit. He was seen swerving on the road at excess speed. It is extremely fortunate that nobody was seriously hurt.

“As a result of his actions, he is now banned from driving for 18 months and will then have to retake his test to obtain his licence. I hope this court result sends a clear message to those who fail to adhere to the laws of the road that you will be put before the court and will have to face the consequences of your actions.”