DRUNKEN Richard Barnett took his parents' sports car to lead police on a high-speed chase through Hereford - and beyond, writes BILL TANNER.

Hereford Crown Court heard how Barnett - a disqualified driver - topped 90 miles an hour heading erratically into the city centre when twice over the legal drink-drive limit and drove at officers who challenged him when he was stopped.

Barnett admitted offences including dangerous driving and driving while disqualified to be jailed for 18 months.

Mr Recorder Cliff told the 29-year-old that he was 'lucky no-one was killed'.

Barnett, an alcoholic, drove drunkenly away from his parents' Kings Acre home in their Mercedes sports car at about 1.20am on Sunday, December 29 last year. Mum and dad were out at the time - and Barnett was on a three-year driving ban.

A little later two PCs on foot patrol saw the Mercedes being driven badly in Union Walk. One officer approached the car when it stopped at the Commercial Road junction, but Barnett, said prosecutor Nigel Stelling, put his foot down, forcing the officer to leap away.

Other patrols were warned to look out for the car as it sped off up Aylestone Hill.

From there events took a turn for the worse. Mr Stelling outlined how:

l Officers spotted the Mercedes at speed near The Starting Gate pub, Holmer, but it proved too fast for their patrol car.

l A dog handler saw the Mercedes in Kings Acre Road doing 95 mph in a 40-mph limit.

l Stopped by a traffic patrol at Whitecross roundabout, Barnett again drove at an officer approaching him.

The resulting chase, in torrential rain, had Barnett heading erratically into Hereford at up to 90 mph - through 30-mph zones and jumping red lights along the way - before losing his pursuers in Edgar Street.

Neighbouring police areas were alerted.

Barnett reached Ross Spur service station where the Mercedes, said Mr Stelling, was linked to a 'making-off without paying'. A Gwent traffic patrol then picked it up on the A40 speeding toward Monmouth.

There, Barnett inadvertently drove into a cul-de-sac and again forced officers to jump clear as he tried to reverse out. The PCs had to smash their way into the car to arrest him - he was twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, defending, said the alcoholic Barnett had no recollection of behaviour that 'horrified and embarrassed' him. A normally 'hard working and sensible' man, he was now committed to dealing with his alcoholism.

Mr Recorder Cliff said Barnett's offences amounted to 'an appalling piece of drunk-driving' during which it was 'lucky no-one was killed'.

A further three-year driving ban was imposed on Barnett along with prison sentences totalling 18 months.