A BANNED Carlisle motorist who sped away from police at up to three times the speed limit exhibited what an officer said was the “worst” dangerous driving he had seen.

After a high-speed journey during which 34-year-old Henry King came close to killing a cyclist, and forced other drivers to take evasive action, the patrol officers involved abandoned the pursuit because of risk to the public.

As he drove along Wigton bypass, King's speed reached 127mph. He was carrying two passengers, his pregnant girlfriend and a seven-year-old child.

He was later arrested and candidly admitted his driving that day had been so dangerous it was “outrageous.”

At a later court hearing, the defendant, of Hillary Grove, Carlisle, admitted dangerous driving, disqualified driving, and being uninsured.

Prosecutor Alaric Walmsley described what happened.

Mr Walmsley said King was first given a driving ban at Liverpool Crown Court in October, 2016, and told that he would remain banned until he passes an extended driving test, which he never did.

On May 5 this year, police got a tip-off that he was driving illegally and began following the defendant’s car as he was driving away from the Harwicke Circus roundabout towards west Carlisle.

Police dashcam footage of the ten-minute pursuit showed him speeding away along Dalston Road, reaching 79mph in the 30mph zone.

Where the road’s speed limit increases to 40mph, King’s speed increased again, rising to 114mph. His speed through Dalston village was clocked at 85mph.

At the edge if Thursby, he negotiated the roundabout the wrong way before pulling on to the A596, crossing solid while lines repeatedly.

“He was driving on the wrong side of the road towards oncoming vehicles,” continued Mr Walmsley. “He was deliberately on the incorrect side of the road [hoping] to have the pursuit abandoned.

In the Station Hill area, near Wigton, a cyclist had to swerve out of the way to avoid what the police said would have been a “certain fatal collision.”

“The police officer, who is an advanced driver, describes the driving of the vehicle as the worst and most persistent dangerous driving he had witnessed.

The speeds reached were double and even triple the speed limits.

“The pursuit lasted for ten minutes, and the driver showed no regard for the occupants [of his car]. Numerous members of the public had to be forced off the road.

"When the car nearly collided with the cyclist, officers took the decision to abandon the pursuit because the risk had become too high.”

Mark Shepherd, defending, said King’s candid answers during his police interview showed his recognition that he had put himself and other people at “extreme risk.”

But the lawyer pointed out that there was an eight year gap in King’s offending. In a stable relationship, with a partner he had known since childhood, the defendant was due to become a father on August 23.

His partner - in the court's public gallery to support him - relies heavily on King for “emotional support.” The defendant also performed a caring role for his mother. Mr Shepherd said: “He’s somebody who panics and someone who flees.

“That seems to have taken over.”

Mr Shepherd also mentioned the defendant’s “long history” of mental health issues and depression, adding: “This was something borne out of panic.”

Recorder Michael Blakey said the defendant was “very, very lucky” not to have hit somebody as he fled from the police, pointing out that a cyclist took evasive action to avoid being hit.

“This was an appalling piece of driving,” said the judge, pointing out that while King recognised his wrongdoing, he had made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.

Only immediate custody was appropriate.

He jailed King for ten months and imposed a fresh 23-month ban, stipulating that the defendant must not drive until he has passed and extended retest.