A MAN who drove a stolen car at over 100 miles per hour down the A49 while trying to escape police capture has been handed a community order.

The chase ended when Mark Seymore, 34, crashed the stolen Volkswagen Golf after losing control on Cadbury's roundabout near Leominster.

Seymore, of Springfield Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A49 at Hope under Dimore and taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.

He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance during the incident.

Rob Perry, prosecuting, said that at 3pm on September 11, a police officer was on patrol along the A49 and noticed Seymore tampering with a number plate on a Volkswagen Golf parked at the side of the road near the Ok Diner.

"As the police officer approached Seymore got into the car and reversed into the police vehicle before making off at speed driving in excess of 100 miles per hour and overtaking other road users as he attempted to evade police," said Mr Perry

"After failing to negotiate the Cadbury's roundabout he hit a lamppost and then made off on foot.

"Police dogs and a helicopter were deployed and Seymore was located sitting down talking to gypsies 200 metres from the crash. He was attempting to put on a coat which didn't fit him."

The car had been stolen from the Cheshire area on August 3, and when Seymore had made off it had been displaying two separate registration plates, neither of which matched the vehicle.

Inside the Volkswagen Golf were two further registration plates which didn't match the vehicle either.

Chris Read, mitigating, said that the incident evolved around Seymore's debts which had reached between £5,000 and £6,000.

"He had taken out a loan from somebody which in hindsight he regrets doing and he was under a lot of pressure to repay that," said Mr Read.

"Subsequently he was told that it was possible to obtain a log book to loan against the vehicle. He was in the process of moving the vehicle after being given it by somebody who knows him.

"He took it to this part of the world to put different number plates on it to be able to finance the loan.

"He reversed his vehicle and didn't intentionally ram the police car. The officer was able to pursue him so it must have been minor damage. He was going too quickly at the roundabout and collided with a fence.

"The dangerous driving was the speed rather than any other manoeuvres."

Magistrate ordered Seymore to complete a community order including 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.

He was disqualified for 15 months and ordered to take an extended driving re-test.

Seymore was also ordered to pay £300 compensation to West Mercia Police, £135 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.