A dangerous driver was jailed yesterday for sparking a dramatic police chase through Hamilton and committing “the worst case of dangerous driving” a court had seen.

Audley Millings, 23, led police on a chase through four red traffic lights and went the wrong way up two one-way streets before attempting to escape on foot, Magistrates’ Court heard.

He was imprisoned for three months when he appeared before magistrate Craig Attridge, who also banned him from the road for three years.

Millings, whose own lawyer described his driving record as “deplorable”, told an earlier hearing: “I know what I did was wrong.

“I have panicked in the moment. I am sorry about the whole thing.”

His charges all occurred on May 30 when he admitted to driving a motorcycle on Crow Lane in Pembroke in a manner that was dangerous to the public.

Millings also confessed to failing to bring the vehicle to an immediate stop and keep it stationary, again at Crow Lane, when required to do so by a policeman.

His third charge was that he drove the motorbike at the same location while disqualified.

The court heard how the events sparked a police pursuit that, in the sentencing remarks, stated how Millings led officers through the streets of “a crowded” Hamilton at night at dangerous speeds, including running four red lights.

He also drove his motorcycle the wrong way down at least two one-way streets.

Then Millings careered the wrong way around at least one roundabout, failed to halt at two stop signs, collided with two police vehicles and narrowly avoided colliding with other vehicles that were forced to swerve to avoid a crash.

His actions also resulted in another police vehicle being damaged and an officer grappling with him after Millings slowed down before speeding off. One policeman was injured during the chase while Millings later leapt from the moving motorbike in an attempt to escape capture.

He was eventually caught and arrested after a brief chase on foot.

Archibald Warner, representing Millings, described his client’s behaviour as “horrendous” and his driving record was also criticised in court as “deplorable” given his previous convictions for similar offences, including speeding.

Mr Attridge said that given his previous convictions and the offence of dangerous driving, the custody threshold had been met and also remarked in a sentencing statement that it “is the worst case of dangerous driving that this court has ever seen”.

He then imposed a four-month jail sentence on Millings for dangerous driving with one month suspended for four years and disqualified him from driving any vehicle for three years.

Millings also received a four-month jail sentence for driving while disqualified with one month suspended for four years plus a three-year disqualification from driving any vehicle.

He was given no additional sentencing for admitting failing to stop for a police officer when requested.

The three-month prison terms are to be served concurrently with two months suspended for the next four years.

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