A DRIVER who wedged his Zafira between a wall and a horse box after leading police on a high-speed chase has been spared jail.

Julian Drew, 31, hit speeds of 70mph in a 30 zone in his effort to get away from police in Calne on July 31, Swindon Crown Court heard.

But after learning that the chase was over a distance of around a mile-and-a-half and Drew had been out of trouble for three years, Judge Peter Crabtree sentenced him to a two year community order as a direct alternative to custody.

The judge told Drew, who appeared in court via video link from Bristol prison: “This was certainly a case of bad driving but it does not appear it was prolonged in terms of timing or distance.

“Nevertheless, you overtook vehicles over white lines, you missed a central bollard by the sound of it, hit one traffic sign and drove at excessive speed through a built-up area.”

Prosecutor David Maunder told the crown court police had seen Drew behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Zafira on the A3102 on July 31.

Believing 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. Officers turned on their car’s blue lights and sirens.

Drew overtook vehicles and tried to pass a tipper truck. He swerved to avoid a traffic island.

Police called off the chase fearing for the safety of other road users and briefly lost sight of the vehicle until spotting it again around five seconds later.

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 horse box and a low wall. There was a horse inside the trailer, Mr Maunder said.

Drew fled through the driver’s side window but was soon caught by police. When he was cautioned he said: “I’m sorry.” He said he’d taken cannabis and cocaine that day, with officers finding a small amount of the class A drug on him.

Mr Maunder said the police officer tailing Drew had commented that there were pedestrians and other cars in Calne at the time of the chase. “It was plain in his view the driver attempted to evade arrest at all costs and in trying to squeeze past the horse box any pedestrian trying to use the pavement at the time would have been hit.”

Drew, of Philip Close, Melksham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of a class A drug, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

He had 39 convictions for 77 offences, including three convictions for driving while disqualified. He had stayed out of trouble since 2017, the court heard.

Caighli Taylor, defending, said her client – who had worked with company setting up festivals – had been unable to work during the pandemic. He had pledged to go on the straight and narrow after missing the birth of one of his three children.

In the week of the police chase he was struggling with a difficult break-up. Ms Taylor said: “Mr Drew was in the car. He was well aware of the fact he had no licence. He panicked when he saw the police.

“In the week that this happened not only was he struggling with his mental health, but he was also dealing with the breakdown of a serious relationship.”

Judge Crabtree sentenced Drew to a two year community order with requirements to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days and a thinking skills programme.

He was banned from driving for two years and must pass an extended retest before he can get his licence back.