FOOTAGE from an on-board camera captured the shocking moment a drunk driver ignored a police officer's desperate pleas to stop as he drove erratically along the A66.

The vehicle driven by Mark Stamper, 24, was spotted swerving between lanes on the M6 northbound motorway before exiting at junction 40 at Penrith.

The 3-Series vehicle then joined the A66 heading west.

Police were called twice about the driving of Stamper, of West End, Great Broughton, initiating an operation to bring the driver to a halt.

The footage, filmed by following driver Brian Douglas, 30, of Whitehaven, showed Stamper blasting past an officer in a lay-by while he tried to flag the car down.

Stamper, who eventually pulled over while pursued by two police vans, appeared before District Judge Gerald Chalk in Workington and pleaded guilty to driving above the alcohol limit.

He was banned from driving for 17 months and fined £230, £85 costs and a £30 surcharge.

The court heard Stamper had been drinking until 2am and had then gone to bed.

His lawyer, Geoff Taylor, said: "He even went for a walk on the promenade at Blackpool for an hour and a half before driving.

"He works for his family farm. He's a hard working, decent chap.

"He apologises for his actions. If he is disqualified, this would cause problems with the running of the farm."

Judge Chalk told Stamper: "I must disqualify you for 17 months.

"Although I appreciate that this would cause great inconvenience to yourself and your family, you drove a long way from Blackpool.

"I do offer you the opportunity of attending a drink driving rehabilitation course, that could reduce your disqualification by 17 weeks."

Mr Douglas was driving on the M6 when he first encountered the BMW.

When he encountered it again on the A66, Stamper's erratic driving prompted him to call the police.

Mr Douglas said: "I thought I had lost him in traffic when I joined the A66 but the BMW came up right behind me.

"I called the police because I felt it was almost a matter of time until there was a major accident.

"When I saw the policeman in the lay-by, I thought 'this is it, the police will finally stop him' so I couldn't believe it when he went flying past.

"It was a relief when they finally pulled the car over."