A motorist who sped away from police at speeds of up to 100mph was under the influence of cocaine, a court heard.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Robert Williams, 24, was given a suspended six month prison sentence and a one year driving ban after a judge heard that he had never been in trouble before.

The defendant, of Trinity Buildings, Carlisle, admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop when required to by a police officer. He also entered a guilty plea to an offence driving while over the drug drive limit.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke described how the drama began at 11pm on December 1 last year when police noticed a faulty brake light on the defendant's Seat Leon car in Carlisle.

When an officer illuminated his police car’s blue lights, Williams sped away and a pursuit began. He was seen driving along the B5307 at speed, racing through the village of Longburgh, near Burgh by Sands.

The pursuit lasted for approximately two miles and Williams reached speeds of between 90mph and 100mph as he drove too quickly through areas with speed limits of 30mph and 60mph, said Mr Burke.

At times, the defendant was braking so hard that sparks could be seen flying off his car's brake pads.

The pursuit ended when the defendant tried to overtake a car on a bend and lost control of his vehicle. A test later showed that Williams was over the legal limit for cocaine by ten times.

The court was told the defendant had a very positive report from the Probation Service. He was assessed as being at a low risk of reoffending in the future.

He had also expressed genuine remorse.

Recorder Andrew Jefferies told the defendant: "You drove dangerously on public roads at 11pm after failing to stop when the police asked you to. Off you went, reaching speeds of 90mph to 100mph, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, your brakes sparking because of the stress they were under."

The judge added: "You are lucky it is only dangerous driving.

"You did all that while you were under the influence of cocaine, which aggravated the dangerous driving."

In addition to the ban and suspended jail term, the judge ruled that Williams must complete 20 days of rehabilitation and sit an extended retest at the end of his disqualification.