A YOUNG motorist who led a police on a high speed pursuit in the early hours refused to give a breath specimen when finally apprehended.

When Benjamin Lee Tones was later asked why he failed to comply with the breathalyser request, he replied that he was “stubborn”.

Durham Crown Court heard that an unmarked police car began to follow Tones' Ford Mondeo after seeing it driven at speed on the B6286 Crook to Hunwick road, near Bishop Auckland, at 2.27am on August 23.

The officer put on flashing lights to indicate to Tones to pull over but he accelerated, heading into Bishop Auckland taking roundabouts at high speed and jumping a red light.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said other officers were alerted and went ahead of the Mondeo to warn pedestrians and road users of him approaching.

Mr Baker said the Mondeo was recorded at 86-miles per hour crossing Cabin Gate junction, 90-mph on a 30-limit stretch approaching Watling Road, and 59-mph as he drove onto the A688 at the next roundabout.

Tones then came to a halt and the patrol car officer rushed to detain him, fearing he was about to get out of the car.

Both went to the ground and it was only when colleagues arrived that Tones was handcuffed.

Mr Baker said the officer “formed the view” Tones was inebriated, and he then admitted he “panicked, as he had been drinking”.

But he twice refused to provide a breath specimen and when taken to a police station he continued to be “obstructive”, again failing to comply with a breath test.

When he was later interviewed Tones repeated that he “panicked” on realising he was being pursued by police, and claimed he refused to give a breath sample as he was “stubborn”.

Mr Baker said the driving was over a two-mile distance and lasted no more than two minutes.

Tones, 20, of Waskerley Walk, Newton Aycliffe, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop when requested and failing to provide a breath specimen.

Simon Perkins, mitigating, said Tones “simply lost it” for a short time when he realised police were pursuing him.

But he added that it was over a relatively short distance, in the dead of the night, with few vehicles on the road, and he is now “contrite”.

Judge Robert Adams imposed a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Tones to undergo 100 hours’ unpaid work and pay £300 costs.

He also banned him from driving for 18 months.