A SPEEDING driver who terrified other motorists was banned from the roads for two years yesterday.

Stephanie Brown, prosecuting, told magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, that Paul Cooper had raced his Renault 5 Turbo along Harlow Moor Road, on the northern fringe of the town, at about twice the 30mph limit.

He cut sharply in front of a car before speeding off round a sharp bend into Cornwall Road where his car spun out of control, hit the kerb and lost a wheel before crashing into a lamppost.

Mrs Brown said one witness had told police she had been forced to pull off the road on to the verge to get out of his way.

The witness said: "He was driving like a lunatic. I was extremely angry. He could easily have killed someone.''

Cooper, 21, an animal technician, of Wedderburn Avenue, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and obstructing police. He was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work and fined £300 with £80 costs. After the two-year ban, he will have to take an extended driving test.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Boothby said Cooper took a pride in his driving and was ashamed of "a moment of stupidity".