L driver hit speeds in excess of 125mph in police chase before losing control of car

He and a front seat passenger then exited the vehicle leaving it blocking one of the traffic lanes.

Police chased the 20-year-old defendant on foot across fields and used irritant spray on him, a prosecutor said.

A judge told Corry McKendry, of Carrowcrin Road near Armoy, he was lucky not to have hit another vehicle as if there had been a collision it could have been fatal.

At Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of driving dangerously; failing to stop for police at the Lisnevenagh Road dual-carriageway between Antrim town and Ballymena; absence of insurance; not being accompanied by a suitably qualified supervisor; and absence of L plates.

A charge of possessing a lock knife in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse was withdrawn by prosecutors.

At 11am on Friday July 17 the defendant was driving towards Ballymena on the Lisnevenagh Road.

Police going in the same direction passed him and then noticed the defendant immediately performed a u-turn at a turning point across the central reservation and "accelerated harshly".

Police turned their vehicle and activated lights and sirens as they gave chase. Footage from the PSNI vehicle was played to the court.

It showed the defendant undertake a vehicle at speed and at one stage the police vehicle was doing a speed of 128mph in an attempt to catch McKendry.

The Leon lost control and careered across a grass central divide and ended up on the opposite side of the dual-carriageway near Pipe Road. It came to a halt facing the wrong way as traffic approached but no vehicle collided with it.

Traffic could be seen passing the abandoned vehicle on the inside lane.

The defendant and a front seat passenger ran off. An officer gave chase on foot through undergrowth towards Tannaghmore Road.

The officer repeatedly shouted for McKendry to stop. The defendant ran through fields and despite being warned about PAVA spray he kept running and when he turned to face police he was sprayed.

A defence barrister said it was accepted it had been a very dangerous driving incident which the defendant regrets. He said McKendry is on medication for ADHD.

The barrister said it was a "very salutary lesson" to the defendant and he regretted making the decision to run away from police. Judge Broderick said the defendant had been driving "in excess of 125mph" and he had never sat a test. He said it had been quite horrific and "truly awful" driving and the defendant could have killed himself and passenger or other road users.

Judge Broderick told McKendry: "Because of your inexperience and the high speed you crossed the central divide and it is just by sheer luck you don't hit a vehicle in the opposite direction.

"Had you done so I've little doubt there would have been serious if not fatal consequences".

He said he would take into account the guilty plea and no previous convictions and said the defendant should consider himself lucky not to be jailed.

The defendant was given a four months prison term, suspended for three years; he was banned from driving for 18 months and afterwards he will have to sit a test. He was also fined £250.