A DRINK-driver caught by police who clocked 111mph through Flimby in pursuit said when he was caught: “Daft that, eh. Steaming as well.”

Farm worker Mark Batty, 31, came to the attention of an officer in a stationary marked vehicle on the A596 in a silver Volvo S40 thought to be travelling too fast.

As the officer pulled out to try and catch up, at 3.55am on April 30, Batty 'disappeared into the distance' through 30mph Flimby.

Dash cam footage played at Workington magistrates’ court showed the PC hit 111mph in the village, and had remarked: “I was only just matching the vehicle in the distance. My risk assessment of the speed in a built-up area would be ‘high risk’.

"The vehicle started to brake quickly — so hard that the brake lights were flashing.”

That would be indicative of an emergency stop, the court heard.

But on narrow roads in darkness, with vehicles parked on both sides, Batty kept going. He turned right twice, and then a third time on to dirt track before stopping outside his own home on Church Road.

MORE FROM COURT: Drunk man filmed himself verbally abusing MP in One Stop shop, court hears

Lifting his arms, Batty asked the officer to wake his parents up and commented: “Daft that, eh. Steaming as well.”

The officer later concluded: “It is only good fortune that no one was killed or injured due to his driving.”

Batty, a man without any previous convictions, gave a full account in interview, telling how he’d been drinking earlier in pubs and at a house party.

He’d stopped drinking at 2am before getting behind the wheel, thinking he was under the legal limit.

But he was just over, failing a breath test. In court he admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving charges.

A probation service officer addressed the court and said Barry showed some insight into his offending and displayed genuine remorse.

Batty’s lawyer, Mark Shepherd, said the inevitable driving ban would cause significant harm to the defendant and his family’s business.

“He is contrite,” said Mr Shepherd. “This is a classic case, in my submission, of a good man doing a bad thing.”

Batty had acted in 'blind panic'.

“There was never any reasonable prospect of him getting away with it,” added Mr Shepherd. “He drove back to the address of the registered keeper.”

It had been a “true one-off, true isolated incident.” And, addressing magistrates directly, Batty said he was “really sorry”.

A six-month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months. Batty must complete a two-year driving ban, and then take an extended re-test.

MORE FROM COURT: Speeding motorist was carrying cocaine in his underwear