A MAN who led police on a high-speed chase during ‘half an hour of complete madness’, hitting speeds of 100mph, has avoided jail.

Guy Dunn, 29 and from Four Crosses, was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for two years, at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday, April 19, for aggravated vehicle taking with dangerous driving and driving while over the limit.

The court heard that around 4am on December 30 last year, West Mercia Police officers on patrol in Oswestry came across a red Ford Focus being driven by Dunn.

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A call was received stating it was involved in other matters and as officers began to trail it, Dunn took off, leading police on a high-speed chase around Oswestry, Whittington, Ellesmere and Trefonen.

Dunn began the chase by tearing off to Mile End roundabout at 80mph before doubling back, as police put on their lights and siren. He then headed towards Ellesmere via Whittington Roundabout.

He doubled back again, drove to Oswestry, before moving on to Weston Rhyn and then back to town before he carried out manoeuvres in Trefonen to stop police from boxing him in.

He hit speeds of 100mph in Trefonen and police deployed a stinger in Upper Brook Street that took out three of the Focus’s tyres.

He eventually stopped in Queen’s Road where police found a passenger and an XL Bully dog in the boot, while Dunn was eventually arrested.

He was breathalysed at the scene, giving a reading of 60mg per 100 – nearly twice the limit – and admitted at interview he had been drinking and that the car belonged to his partner who was asleep.

Dunn told police he did not stop because he knew he was over the limit.

Defending Dunn, Alexa Carrier told Judge Anthony Lowe that her client had shown remorse from the outset and had pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates Court in February this year.

She added that Dunn’s partner was going through a difficult pregnancy and a ‘custodial sentence would take him away from her’.

Miss Carrier added he had three employees who depended on him through his jet washing business and he has a contract with McDonald’s.

Sentencing him, Judge Lowe said: “It is unusual for somebody in real risk of going to prison also be someone who is operating a business, employing other people.

“You may not be making a fortune but you have plainly got a good work ethic.

“It was half an hour of complete madness.

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“In many ways, 4am is more dangerous as other people don’t think anyone is on the road but it’s sheer luck that nothing happened when you’re driving at speeds of 100mph.

“But although this was extraordinarily bad driving, nothing happened and that is how I can find my way to suspend the sentence for two years.”

Dunn received no separate penalty for being over the limit, but was given 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from driving for two years.