A drink driver who raced through the streets of Herne Bay at 70mph with his lights off has narrowly avoided spending Christmas in prison.

Max Allan, 29, had also taken cocaine and had not passed his driving test when he led police on the high-speed chase along 30mph roads.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the car was his mum's, and he had taken it without permission.

Recorder Richard Thomas told Allan, of Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay: “If a pedestrian had stepped out you could have killed them.”

Allan admitted dangerous driving, drink driving, taking a car without consent, failing to stop, failing to give a blood test and being uninsured.

Kate Smith, prosecuting, said at just after midnight on October 4 police officers were in Herne Bay High Street when they saw a car coming towards them at speed without lights and swerving.

They chased Allan through the town at speeds of up to 60mph in 30mph limits. In Reculver Road, Allan reached 70mph before turning into Mill Lane, a dead end.

He jumped out of the car before it crashed into bollards and had to be written off. Officer ran after Allan and found him hiding under a car.

A breath test showed he had 87mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 35mg.

Police suspected he had taken drugs and asked him for a blood test, but he refused and said he could not be bothered.

Miss Smith said: “This was prolonged bad driving at excessive speeds in built-up areas. He did not have a licence, had no lights and had taken alcohol and cocaine.”

Christopher Wray, defending, said Allan had an ongoing problem with alcohol and took drugs.

“On this day he felt low and had been taking drugs,” he said. “He’d gone out to get some more. He needs help to tackle this problem.”

Recorder Thomas told Allan: “You have persistent offences for dishonesty, criminal damage, violence and harassment. You have breached orders in the past and as recently as October this year you were in breach of a community order.

“It is a bit of a sorry history. This is very much your last chance. You have to change your attitude.”

Allan was jailed for a year, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months.

He was also given a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and a three-year driving ban.