A MAN who sped away from police and led them on a high speed chase from Yeovil through to South Petherton knew he had been drinking and didn’t want to lose his licence.

Leon Illsley ignored the police who activated their blue lights and sirens and drove off from Hillcrest Road driving over double the speed limit and reaching speeds of up to 120mph on the A303.

After going to South Petherton he ended up in Martock where he fled from his vehicle but was detained by officers following a foot chase.

When he appeared in court his solicitor Joseph Wright said that the defendant “went into an absolute panic” when he saw the police after realising that his job depended on his driving licence.

“He is gutted and ashamed and realises his situation is going to be very difficult indeed now,” he said.

Illsley, 35, of Bower Hinton, Martock, pleaded guilty to driving a Ford Mondeo after consuming excess alcohol on July 7.

He also admitted failing to stop when required by a police constable when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that police officers were on patrol when they saw Illsley on Hillcrest Road in Yeovil and when his vehicle sped up the officer illuminated his blue lights and sounded his siren to stop him.

“However the defendant continued to drive on along Highfield Road with the car’s undercarriage hitting the road as it was travelling over speed humps at 60mph in a 30mph limit,” she said.

“The car went through Chilthorne Domer at 70mph and on the A303 at 120mph, then went to South Petherton and ended up in Martock.