A DRIVER who led police on a night-time pursuit in Wimborne ditched the car in a cemetery – only for it to roll back out into a road, creating a “very dangerous obstacle”.

Police Sergeant Mark Scammell found Michael John Roger D’Arcy “incoherent” in a bush following the dangerous driving incident.

This was only after the officer had removed the key from the Volkswagen Touran D’Arcy had been driving, which had come to a stop across Stone Lane.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard the 37-year-old defendant had 10 previous offences of drug driving, drink driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis, 10 former driving while disqualified matters, two dangerous driving convictions and one offence of failing to stop after an accident.

However, Recorder Paul Garlick QC decided against jailing D’Arcy after he had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and drink driving at an earlier hearing in relation to the Wimborne incident.

The sentencing judge told the offender this was his “last chance” and further driving offences would see him go to prison for “years not months”.

Prosecuting, Sadie Rizzo said Sergeant Scammell was on mobile patrol around 11pm on October 25 when he became aware of a car coming the opposite direction at excess speed, which was being driven by the defendant.

“He turned around and tried to follow that car,” said Ms Rizzo.

The prosecutor played dashcam footage from Sergeant Scammell’s car pursuing the defendant.

The court heard after performing a U-turn, D’Arcy drove into the police car before going into the entrance of the cemetery.

“Mr D’Arcy got out of the car, the officer didn’t know this, letting it roll backwards,” said Ms Rizzo.

Recorder Garlick QC described this as “creating a very dangerous obstacle”. The car, which belonged to the defendant’s partner, still had its engine running and music playing.

D’Arcy, of Green Close, Sturminster Newton, was located in a bush and complied with the officer except when asked to carry out a roadside breath test.

After being arrested and taken to the police station, the defendant, provided a sample with 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Ms Rizzo said: “In interview, other than to say he was having a mental breakdown, he gave a no comment interview throughout.”

Mitigating, Timothy Compton said there were very few, if any, other cars on the road, to which the judge replied: “That’s a mercy.”

Mr Compton said his client was a long-suffering alcoholic, while in relation to his rehabilitation, having already been subject to three community orders, he said “the movement is in the right direction”.

The barrister said an immediate term of imprisonment would lock him away “for a relatively short period of time” but the support in addressing his issues would come to a halt.

D’Arcy is in a stable relationship and he is a father to four children, the court heard.

“The progress which has been made will certainly come to a halt, if not go hard into reverse,” said Mr Compton. “It would also have an impact on his partner and their children.

Recorder Garlick QC said the defendant’s driving meant there was a real risk a member of the public could have suffered “very serious injuries”.

“This was an extremely serious case of dangerous driving. It is made worse by the fact that you were also heavily under the influence of alcohol,” said the judge.

While there was “no doubt” the case crossed the custody threshold, Recorder Garlick QC said he was persuaded to impose a suspended sentence because of the pre-sentence report and his medical issues.

D’Arcy was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. This included a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement, a thinking skills programme and 200 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was disqualified from driving for five years.