A MOTORIST who led police on a five-mile car chase while drinking cider narrowly avoided being sent to prison yesterday.

Stephen Turton, 33, downed most of a two-litre bottle during the pursuit, as he reached speeds of up to 100mph on the A19, in east Durham, shortly after midnight on August 11 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that during the chase, he struck a cyclist, who was left lying in the road, although not seriously injured.

On leaving the A19, he drove three times round a roundabout, before stopping half-a-mile along the A182, near Easington Village, in County Durham.

David Callan, prosecuting, said Turton then struggled with officers who tried to handcuff him.

A cider bottle that was nearly empty was found in his Vauxhall Zafira and, at his request, he was taken to hospital, where he gave a blood specimen containing 141mg of alcohol, compared to the legal limit of 80mg.

He told police he earlier had a row with his girlfriend and went for a drive, during which he drank the cider, although he said he had no memory of the chase.

Mr Callan said: "An unusual feature of the case is that, although the police think they know who the cyclist is, he refused to make a complaint as it is thought the bicycle may have been stolen."

The court heard Turton's motoring offending includes several convictions for drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

Lee Fish, mitigating, said his client had sought help to tackle his drink and drugs "demons" and had undergone treatment for depression.

Turton, of Merle Terrace, Pallion, Sunderland, admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Judge Richard Lowden imposed a 35-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months, and ordered Turton to undergo 12-months' supervision by the probation service.

He will also be subject to a 60-day, 8pm to 7am home curfew, during which he will be electronically tagged.