A DRINK-DRIVER led police on a high-speed chase along the motorway and then crashed into a roundabout in Emsworth when he deliberately turned his headlights off.
James Ellis reached speeds of more than 120mph in his Volkswagen Golf in a bid to get away from police as they pursued him along the M27.
The chase began at 2am when Ellis sped past the marked police vehicle at more than 100mph just after junction
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As the officers followed him along the M27 he swerved from side to side and at one point pulled over to the side of the road only to accelerate off.
The 35-year-old turned his headlights off as he got on to the A27 near Havant.
Police were forced to call off the chase, which happened on October 7, last year, because they considered it was too dangerous to continue.
A few moments later when the officers pulled off the A27 at Emsworth they noticed Ellis had ploughed into the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road. He had lost control and crashed into a hedge near the roundabout.
As officers approached the wreckage of the car they saw Ellis staggering along the grass verge and then slump to the ground.
Ellis was arrested and said to police 'I've done it this time, haven't I'.
Enquiries revealed Ellis had been previously banned from driving and a breath test showed he was over the limit.
At Portsmouth Crown Court Ellis was spared an immediate prison sentence.
Instead Recorder David Bartlett imposed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Ellis was ordered to complete 50 hours unpaid work for the community and will be supervised by the probation service for 12 months.
He was banned from driving for four years and ordered to pay £250 towards prosecution costs.
Ellis of School Road, Old Bursledon, near Swanwick, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and drink-driving.
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