LEIGHTON man Robert Perry bought an Audi car on e-bay and decided to take it for a spin, despite having no insurance and not having taken a test.

So when he realised police were behind him he panicked and a police pursuit followed which a judge described in court last week as "horrifying."

The chase began in Tebworth at 9pm on August 19 and went through the villages of Charlton, Lower Sundon and Streatley and onto the A6, first heading towards Bedford and then back along the same road to Luton.

Prosecutor Bill McGivern said Perry reached speeds of 110 mph on the dual carriageway and 60 mph through villages. He took roundabouts the wrong way, went round blind bends on the wrong side, damaged wing mirrors of parked cars and caused some on coming cars to mount pavements.

He was finally stopped when he turned into a dead end at Southampton Gardens, Luton. When shown cctv footage of the pursuit he agreed it was dangerous.

Perry, 19 of East Street, Leighton Buzzard, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to dangerous driving and driving without insurance. He was sentenced on Thursday to 14 months' youth custody and banned from driving for 18 months.

Chris Moran, defending said: "This driving was obviously very serious and thankfully no-one was hurt.

"He panicked at first and then once he had started on that course of action he knew he was in more trouble and panicked even more."

The barrister said Perry had not been before a court previously and the offence was not aggravated by him having alcohol or drugs in his system.

"His one ambition was to join the police force but that has probably come to an end," he added.

Judge Peter Wright told Perry: "You were an utter danger to other road users. It is a shocking and horrifying account of bad driving. It is only by divine providence that no one was seriously injured or killed."