A DANGEROUS driver whose actions led to a police vehicle flipping upside-down while in pursuit has been give a second chance.

Jonathan Sayers, aged 19, of Castle Square in Bridport pleaded guilty at Dorchester Crown Court to dangerous driving, failing to stop for a police officer, no insurance and no MOT relating to an incident on January 12.

Sayers was also charged with driving while disqualified, no insurance and no MOT relating to a further offence on March 29, 11 days after he was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court and was disqualified from driving and handed a community order.

Prosecuting, Adam Norris told the court that on January 12 officers received reports of a a red BMW in the Beaminster area driving “antisocially”. At around 11.30pm the car was spotted on the A35 southbound travelling at “excessive speed” of about 90pmh in a 50mph zone and refused to stop for police.

The chase continued in and around the Beaminster, Bridport and Axminster area at at one point entered a residential area with a 30mph limit.

Mr Norris said: “The officer was an experienced driver but was struggling to keep up with the BMW because he felt it was unsafe to go any faster. The police officer then hits the bank of the road and flips his car upside-down.”

When Sayers returned home, after dumping the car, he was said to be laughing at the fact he had just been chased by the police. Denying the allegations he told police he sold the car a few days previously.

In relation to the second incident, Mr Norris said: “On Tuesday March 29 officers were called at 10.30pm to a vehicle-related incident by the defendant’s father. Mr Sayers knew his son had been banned from driving and knew he had got a new car had suspected he had been driving it.”

An altercation took place leading to Sayers driving off, scraping his father’s car and hitting a neighbours fence post.

Sayers got his full licence in November 2014 but had already obtained nine points on his provisional licence.

Mitigating, Naomi Gyane said: “There is no question that it has taken a father at the end of his tether to the call the police on his son. Since the incident he has not been in trouble again.”

Judge Jonathan Fuller QC, said: “Had it not been for his driving the police officer would not have been put in danger. You came in like ‘Jack the lad’ boasting about what happened. Your instinct was to lie to police and lie you did.

“Then with little grace or understanding you admitted it. The Magistrates Court would have made it perfectly clear you were banned from driving.” Judge Fuller deferred the sentence for six months and ordered Sayers to “keep out of trouble”.