A DANGEROUS driver who led police on a chase during which he reached a speed of 80mph in a 30mph zone has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Leighton Paginton “panicked” after he saw a police car as he drove through Newport after drinking with a friend, the city’s crown court heard.

Prosecutor Sarah Waters said the 27-year-old was over the drink-drive limit when he eventually stopped but provided a negative specimen at the police station.

Paginton, of Royal Oak Drive, Newport, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop when required for a police officer on October 8.

She said the defendant was spotted by a patrol car just after 4am on the Southern Distributor Road after he performed a U-turn.

He drove through the city centre, at one point turning his lights off and going down a one way street in the wrong direction.

Paginton stopped his Ford Fiesta near the Harlequin roundabout after the four-minute pursuit.

Miss Waters said that the arresting police officer noticed the defendant “smelt strongly of intoxicants”.

The court was told that Paginton has a previous conviction for theft from an employer from 2016 for which he received a community order.

Ben Waters, mitigating, said his client admitted he had behaved in a “stupid and foolish” way and was remorseful.

His barrister added that the defendant’s best mitigation was his early guilty plea before magistrates.

Mr Waters added: “He is an industrious and hard-working man who is in full employment.”

He said Paginton’s wife was in the military and that he lived with his parents and was a carer for his mother.

Mr Waters said: “He has let himself down, he has let his family down.”

Before he sentenced Paginton, Judge Jeremy Jenkins blasted the prosecution authorities for failing to provide the footage of the defendant’s driving in a format which could be played to the court.

He jailed him for eight months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered he carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Paginton must also complete an eight-day rehabilitation and activity requirement.

He was banned from driving for three years and must pay prosecution costs of £340 and a victim surcharge.