A banned driver who drove dangerously as he fled from the police at night with his car lights switched off has been given “one final opportunity” to reform.

Andrew Saunders was facing jail after he sped away from officers in Gillingham and drove on the wrong side of the road as he headed for Sheppey.

But after hearing from the 21-year-old and an employee from a fitness centre at Shurland Hotel in Eastchurch, where he worked as a volunteer, a judge suspended a 12-month sentence for 18 months and imposed 150 hours unpaid work.

“I am going to give you one final opportunity,” Judge Philip Statman told Saunders.

“I take the view this is an exceptional course. You will never ever in the future get a chance as good as this one.

“If you decide to go back to your old ways you will understand what I am on about.

"If in the next two years you are involved in any criminal activity you will be fast tracked before me and I will send you away for the fresh offences and 12 months on top.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard police spotted Saunders in a Ford Focus in Barnsole Road, Gillingham, in the early hours of October 16 last year.

The officers put on their blue lights and followed, but Saunders accelerated away, hitting 70mph in a 30mph zone.

Prosecutor Tony Prosser said Saunders turned off his headlights and continued at high speed. He drove onto the A249 at Bobbing, weaving over the road.

“If you decide to go back to your old ways you will understand what I am on about..." - Judge Philip Statman

Offices saw smoke coming from the car. Another patrol car joined the pursuit. As one of the police cars overtook on the inside there was a slight collision.

Saunders continued over the Kingsferry Bridge and soon afterwards a stinger device punctured the car’s four tyres.

He still went over two roundabouts before losing control of the car and ending up in a ditch.

He made off over a barbed wire fence and fields, but was tracked down by a police dog.

It was discovered that Saunders’ girlfriend Leanne Akers was a passenger in the car. Mr Prosser said she was hysterical, screaming and hyperventilating.

Saunders, of High Street, Minster, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and not having a licence or insurance.

He had previous convictions for driving offences, attempted robbery, burglary, criminal damage and possessing cannabis.

Claire Langevad, defending, said Saunders had an appalling record and could have killed somebody with his driving.

“He is horrified, looking back on his behaviour that night,” she said. “His friends were driving around in nice cars and he took the view he wanted to do it also.

“He fully accepts this was not a short-lived piece of driving. This was a horrendous piece of driving. He has no desire to drive in future.”

Miss Langevad said Saunders worked voluntarily for a number of people, including the hotel gym, who spoke highly of him.

“I truly understand why I am in this situation. What I did was very serious...” - Andrew Saunders

“They see promise in him,” she added. “If he received an immediate custodial sentence, the support would fall away.”

Saunders was also banned from driving for 18 months and will have to take an extended test before being allowed back on the road.

Describing the driving as “absolutely shocking”, Judge Statman said: “I have the difficult decision to make as to what is to be done with you. You couldn’t complain if you were sent off for a period of custody.

“The more difficult part of the sentencing exercise is if I send you away for 12 months those people who are providing you with support in the community will be removed from you.

“I wonder if at the age of 21 I ought to give you one final opportunity to rehabilitate yourself.”

The judge said a six-month curfew from 8pm to 7am would prevent him from “associating with other undesirables or trouble the community by being out and wandering abroad at night”.

“So you know I am on your case, you will be coming to see me every month for a review,” said Judge Statman. “If you decide to take a risk with me, I will play hardball with you.

“Think about the rest of your life and the chance I have given you. If you spurn it, you will go to prison. If you don’t, there is a better life out there for you.”

Saunders, who passed nine GCSEs, told the judge: “I truly understand why I am in this situation. What I did was very serious.”

When he was 16, he said, his life was perfect and he had everything he could wish for. He did well at school and worked with his father as a plumber.

But things “went really wrong”. His parents split up and he started to drink excessively. He wanted to end his life and jumped off a bridge on the M2 in Rochester.

Saunders said he had received help from others and was going to mental health meetings for counselling.