A MOTORIST clocked 80mph on a main Carlisle road while almost twice the drink-drive limit.

Police received reports about the concerning manner of Anthony Robert Miller’s driving in the Morton area at about 4.25am on October 10.

“Traffic units attended Ellesmere Way with signals for him to stop,” prosecutor Brendan Burke told Carlisle Crown Court.

“He reacted to that by accelerating away, at which point a pursuit began.

“He drove on Ellesmere Way to Wigton Road. That’s an area restricted to 30mph in a built-up, residential area.

“He was reaching speeds of up to 80mph on Wigton Road.”

Miller, 40, made a sudden move left on to Orton Road, travelling through a red traffic light.

He braked “violently”, tried to reverse into the pursuing police vehicle and was stopped when an officer used “tactical” low speed contact.

Miller, of Dobinson Road, Carlisle, refused a roadside breath test, but was later found to be almost twice the legal limit.

He admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

During a magistrates’ court sentencing hearing he was jailed for 120 days.

Miller’s appeal against the severity of that punishment was heard at the crown court.

His lawyer, David Wales, said Miller sought to argue that the jail term could be suspended.

“It was a terrible course of driving and my client doesn’t seek to shirk from that,” conceded Mr Wales.

“But it was four o’clock in the morning. There were no people around.

“This was not in middle of the day on a busy street where people were at risk. Nobody was injured.”

But after hearing all submissions, the appeal was dismissed.

“This was a serious, aggravated piece of dangerous driving in our judgement,” Judge Nicholas Barker concluded.