A 26-year-old man who drove through red traffic lights and a no-entry sign before colliding with another vehicle on the outskirts of Cheltenham while being twice over the alcohol limit has received a seven-month suspended prison term.

At Gloucester Crown Court last Friday (June 11) Leon Thomas of Ash Road, Northway, Tewkesbury, admitted dangerous driving on the A4019 on July 22, 2020, driving while over the legal drink-drive limit and having no insurance or driving licence on the same date.

Ian Fenny, prosecuting, said that during the late evening of July 22nd Pc Smith was on patrol and spotted a Renault Laguna parked in a layby in such a way that it attracted his attention.

"When PC Smith drove past the vehicle he saw no less than five occupants inside with Thomas being the driver," said Mr Fenny.

"PC Smith turned around and pulled alongside the Laguna - at which point Thomas drove away. The police officer activated the vehicle's blue lights indicating he wanted him to stop, but he didn't.

"Thomas then drove through red traffic lights before turning right into a no entry road. As he corrected himself to get onto the proper carriageway of the A4019 he collided with a kerbed island and continued for some distance.

"The police car's sirens were activated, but Thomas failed to stop. A police pursuit then ensued in a 50mph zone with Thomas travelling at speeds up to 90mph as he drove through Uckington.

"After about a minute the Laguna slowed down to a speed of 5mph when it collided with another car. All the occupants decamped and Thomas was arrested and breathalysed and recorded a reading of twice over the legal alcohol limit."

Naomi Aylwin, defending, said: "Thomas didn't run off from the vehicle when he eventually stopped and he admitted his offending in interview having been caught 'red handed'.

"It was only luck that more serious damage had not been caused which could have had drastic consequences."

Judge James Patrick observed: "We are talking about an incident from July last year when we were all being encouraged not to mix with others not in our family group."

Ms Aylwin added: "The incident was completely his fault. He doesn't know why he drove on that evening. He was clearly drunk.

"This incident has had a big impact on his family and is already working well with probation as part of a community order.

"Thomas states his father was a heroin addict and he wants to be a better role model to his children than his father was to him. He is currently working in the construction industry."

Judge Patrick said to Thomas "You were already waiting to be sentenced for a similar offence when you were stopped by the police in July of last year, a period of time when we were in a pandemic.

"You were drunk and drove the vehicle with five other men as passengers. The police have better things to do than drive after a group of drunk men.

"You were very drunk. It was a dangerous piece of driving and you ignored red lights and went through a no entry sign. You ignored blue lights and a police siren and drove at 90mph through a village. You then collided with another vehicle.

"That is dangerous driving. It was a staggeringly piece of bad driving. You had no business being behind the wheel because you knew you were drunk and about to be banned from driving for a previous offence.

"You are aged 26 yet it is difficult to know when you might grow up."

The judge sentenced Thomas to a prison term of seven months and suspended it for two years. He ordered that Thomas attend 30 programme sessions and be subjected to a two-month alcohol abstinence scheme and undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £300 and a victim surcharge.

The judge also banned Thomas from driving for two years and ordered that he take a mandatory re-test for the dangerous driving offence.