A MAN at the wheel of a friend’s car panicked as he mistakenly thought a police officer was casting an eye over him, a court heard.

Thomas Lally, who was not insured to drive the Audi A3, thought the officer was showing an interest in him as he drove on the A181 in Gilesgate, Durham, at 8pm on Friday July 19, last year.

Durham Crown Court was told he misunderstood the situation as the officer was, actually, paying attention to another vehicle nearby.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, told the court Lally pulled out, went onto the kerb and did a wheel spin, drawing attention to himself.

The officer began to follow the Audi as it left Durham on Sherburn Road.

Lally accelerated, at one point to almost 100-miles per hour on the A181 between Durham and Sherburn Village, a 60-limit road.

Mr Towers said reaching Sherburn Village, the Audi was still doing 60-mph in a 30-limit area, driving straight across a mini roundabout, speeding on to Sherburn Hill and Haswell Plough.

Lally turned onto South Hetton Road, went through a red light in Easington Lane, then straight through temporary traffic lights, causing oncoming vehicles to brake, before taking a roundabout in the wrong direction.

He went through another red light at a pedestrian crossing, drove through Hetton-le-Hole town centre, where the speed limit is 30, at 60, and carried on at speed on Caroline Street, past children playing on the grass verge.

Mr Towers said Lally turned and headed back past the children, went through another red light, before stopping at Hetton Bus Station.

He tried to run away but, having been warned he would be tasered if he continued to flee, he stopped.

Lally tested positively for cocaine in his system above the legal limit for driving.

The court was told the 24-year-old defendant, of Burt Close, Haswell, has only one unrelated previous offence.

He admitted dangerous driving, drug driving and no insurance relating to the 15-minute pursuit.

Andrew Finlay, for the defendant, confirmed he borrowed a friend’s car to collect some food in Durham knowing he was uninsured and, so, panicked on spotting police.

Mr Finlay said Lally works as a plumber for a company sub-contracted to British Gas but plans to begin working for himself.

“Clearly a driving ban will impact on that.

“This obviously passes the custody threshold. It’s bad driving on anyone’s view.”

Judge James Adkin told Lally it was, “an absolutely terrible piece of driving”.

Imposing a ten-month prison sentence, Judge Adkin said given his lack of previous similar offences and his early admissions, he could suspend it for two years, during which Lally must perform 120 hours’ unpaid work.

Banning Lally from driving for a year, he added: “This is a real chance for you. You won’t be given another, so make the most of it.”