A HIGH-SPEED police chase that stretched from Corfe Castle through Bournemouth came to an end when the offender's car ran out of fuel.

Coby Eke reached speeds of around 90mph, went the wrong way round roundabouts and drove straight through red lights during the early hours pursuit.

The incident began after officers attempted to do a routine stop check on his vehicle to find out why he was on the road shortly before 2am on June 10 given the coronavirus lockdown.

The 25-year-old "panicked" and set off in his Vauxhall Astra with police on his tail for around 20 minutes.

He was pursued along the A351, the A35 from Baker's Arms before continuing on the A350, A3049, Wallisdown Road, Talbot Avenue, Wimborne Road, Whitelegg Way and New Road.

Eke, of Osborne Road, Swanage, was jailed for eight months at Bournemouth Crown Court on July 17, having admitted a charge of dangerous driving.

Prosecuting Stuart Ellacott showed the court dashcam footage from a police car that was in pursuit.

Speeds in the region of 90mph were recorded during the chase, as well as evidence of Eke going through at least three red lights, travelling on the wrong side of the road and the wrong way round at least three roundabouts, Mr Ellacott said.

The defendant, a father-of-two, was arrested when his vehicle came to a stop. In interview he accepted he would have continued driving until he was forced to do so if he had not run out of fuel, the court heard.

Mr Ellacott said Eke told officers he had gone out driving because he was "bored with lockdown" but he gave no comment on the manner of his driving at the time.

Mitigating David Freeland said the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions and was "ashamed" of his behaviour.

The court heard Eke had recently gone through a "traumatic" family experience. He had also been made unemployed around the time of the incident.

Mr Freeland said the defendant had gone out on the roads to "clear his head" but he "panicked" when he saw police.

The probation service reported that Eke's behaviour had been "excellent" with them and he had gained employment since the incident.

However, in sentencing, Judge Fuller said his actions at the wheel were "prolonged" and "very dangerous".

"You had no regard for other road users or people who might have been out and about," said Judge Fuller.

"Mercifully, to use Mr Freeland's words, there were very few other road users. That is merely a matter of chance.

"No one else was affected by your driving but the risk of harm to them and other road users was considerable."

Eke was jailed for eight months and given a two-year driving ban, which was extended to run from the time he leaves prison.

A suspended sentence of 20 weeks imprisonment made in January for an offence of battery was implemented to run concurrently.