A police chase ended when a Zafira driver wedged his car between a wall and a horse box, Swindon magistrates heard.

Julian Drew, 31, led traffic cops on a 70mph pursuit through Calne having fled because he knew he didn’t have insurance.

He will be sentenced at the crown court next month after pleading guilty on Saturday to dangerous driving.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard officers from Wiltshire’s roads policing unit spotted Drew behind the wheel of the Vauxhall on the A3102 on Friday morning.

Suspecting the car was uninsured, they began to follow it. The Zafira – at the back of a line of five vehicles – pulled out and overtook two cars on a slight right-hand bend. Police turned on their car’s blue lights and sirens.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told JPs Drew was seen overtaking another two vehicles, including a large tipper truck.

When the Vauxhall struck a small traffic island near Calne police briefly called off the pursuit fearing for the safety of other drivers.

The officers lost sight of the vehicle for around five seconds but were soon able to resume the chase.

Drew continued onto Silver Street, approaching the roundabout at around 50mph in the 30mph zone.

He turned onto London Road, a residential street with a 30mph speed limit. The police officers’ marked car was doing 60mph and the Zafira was pulling away from them.

The chase hit 70mph, more than twice the speed limit, before Drew turned into Wessington Park. A horse box partially blocked the Vauxhall’s path. Drew mounted the pavement to try and get past but wedged his car between the agricultural vehicle and a low wall.

He escaped through the open drivers-side window but was caught within moments by police. He tested positive for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside and, when he was cautioned by police, said: “I’m sorry.” Found on him was a small amount of cocaine.

Appearing before the court via video link from Melksham police station on Saturday morning, Drew, of St Philip’s Close, Melksham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of a class A drug, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. A charge of failing to provide was withdrawn.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said his client had taken off from officers because he knew he was not insured to drive the car. “It is a stupid mistake and he is more annoyed at himself, putting himself back in this position.”

The justices heard Drew had a lengthy record, including four previous convictions for driving while disqualified. His last offence dated back to 2017.

Magistrates remanded him in custody to be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on September 4.