The son of a police officer panicked on being signalled to stop by a force car as he drove his Mercedes home from drinking at a friend’s house in the early hours of the morning.

Fearing he would bring shame on his family if he failed a breathalyser, Ryan Thody ignored the clear signal to stop and tried to outrun the police vehicle.

In doing so, he became involved in a 6.3-mile high-speed chase, in which he carried out dangerous manoeuvres, from the outskirts of Newcastle to Whitley Bay, on the A1058 Coast Road.

Durham Crown Court heard he eventually voluntarily came to a halt in a residential area of Whitley Bay, telling the patrol car officers: “You’ll get no trouble from me”.

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He immediately expressed remorse, and when arrested and taken to a police station he gave a breath sample containing 54mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, compared to the legal limit to drive of 35mg.

Matthew Simpson, prosecuting, said it was shortly after 1.30am on Saturday October 8 that the attention of the patrolling officers was drawn to the Mercedes, on Benfield Road, Newcastle.

They activated the vehicle’s flashing lights so there could be no mistake that they wanted him to pull over, but Thody drove on, even after the police car drew alongside the Mercedes at traffic lights.

He pulled away at speed and turned onto the Coast Road, heading eastwards, reaching 107-miles per hour, on a stretch restricted to 50mph.

Mr Simpson said the Mercedes weaved from lane to lane and made as if to pull off at one junction, before veering back onto the Coast Road at the last moment.

The pursuit continued at 90mph in a 40-area and then 60mph in a 30-limited stretch of Preston Road North.

It carried on northbound onto Seatonville Road, before coming to a halt at its junction with Langley Avenue, in West Monkseaton.

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Mr Simpson said having been arrested and given the positive breath test, Thody explained he had been to a friend’s house where he drank four cans of cider, before leaving and dropping off a friend.

He said he was “hugely embarrassed” that he did not stop for police, as his father was a custody sergeant in the force.

Mr Simpson said despite the distance travelled, plus the speed and manner of driving of Thody during the chase, the traffic was light and there were few or no pedestrians about.

The 21-year-old defendant, of Cramlington, Northumberland, who has committed no previous offences, admitted charges of dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

Vic Laffey, in mitigation, presented several character references to the court, including one from Thody’s employer, all of which spoke highly of the defendant.

Mr Laffey said but for this incident, Thody was an otherwise, “decent young man, who has never previously troubled the courts.”

He said: “He went out that night not intending to drink and then gave lifts home.”

But Mr Laffey said when the police attempted to stop him, Thody “panicked”.

“The problem was, he might have ended up at the police station where his father works.”

Mr Laffey said despite the distance covered, the incident lasted under eight minutes and there was no injury or damage caused, while the defendant stopped, “of his own volition”.

“He’s had the good sense to make a clean breast to his employer that he was in a little bit of trouble.

“He told them about it and they have given him a reference.

“He’s in full-time employment which he hopes to maintain.

“If he loses his liberty he would clearly lose his employment.”

Mr Laffey referred to a probation pre-sentence report in which the author said he appeared to have acted out of character and is not someone who would require continued input by the service.

“He’s well aware it’s a serious offence and it’s been a salutary experience.

“I’ve spoken to him at some length and he’s been awaiting this day with trepidation.”

Recorder Edward Legard told the defendant: “Too many lives are lost or needlessly blighted by misplaced bravado or sheer stupidity, but in your case sheer panic led you to behave as you did, no doubt motivated by the fact that your father is a custody sergeant with Northumbria Police.

“There was clear and persistent disregard for the police vehicle indicating for you to stop over a significant distance travelled, over six miles, and the extreme speed at which you drove.”

Recorder Legard said although the custody threshold was passed, and many members of the public would think it merited an immediate term of imprisonment, after, “detailed consideration”, he decided, “with some caution” to suspend the six-month sentence for a year.

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               County Durham man at wheel of Audi claimed he was not driving

               Northumbria Police officer who fell asleep in van was over limit

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He said he believed the defendant’s prospects of rehabilitation were “good”.

But he also imposed a five-month electronically-monitored home curfew, from 7pm until 6am and banned Thody from driving for 18 months.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £425 court costs within 28 days.