A man who took Police on a terrifying 170 kph chase through the narrow roads of the West End before crashing outside a Police station has avoided prison by the skin of his teeth ? although he will be spending the next three years taking public transportation.

To whistles of astonishment in a packed Magistrates? Court yesterday morning, Crown counsel Paula Tyndale described how a drunk Deuntay Darrell, 29, of Ten Pin Lane, Warwick, was caught in a Police speed trap travelling at 130 kph on Middle Road in Sandys on June 22.

Pursued by two officers on motorbikes, Darrell refused to stop and Police followed him at speeds topping 170 kph or 105 mph. Occasionally becoming airborne as he careered along the undulating roads, Darrell struggled to control his car ? narrowly avoiding mowing down a cyclist at one stage and swerving from lane to lane.

Darrell eventually crashed his car into a wall ? directly outside Somerset Police Station.

When approached by the two officers as he sat in his damaged car, Darrell insisted he had only had two drinks, and told the officers: ?I know I was speeding but I didn?t do anything dangerous.?

But yesterday Darrell ? who had no criminal record whatsoever ? admitted to being ?heavily intoxicated? and apologised to the court and the motoring public for his actions.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner was none too impressed however, labelling Darrell?s antics ?one of the worst cases of dangerous driving he had ever come across?. ?I have considered the fact that you have been up to now a law-abiding citizen which in itself has saved you from time in prison,? Mr. Warner said. ?But I hope you get the message nonetheless.?

Darrell was fine $1,000 and banned from driving all vehicles for three years and fined another $1,000 and given a six month prisonsentence for dangerous driving ? which was suspended.

Fines of $600 for failing to stop when asked by Police and $1,000 for drunk driving were also imposed.