A police officer became suspicious when he spotted a car with flashing red and blue lights being driven at speed, a court heard.

He did not recognise the Suzuki Vitara as being a response car when he saw it rushing along Bearsted Road, Maidstone, on June 8.

Another officer followed along Loose Road and signalled to the driver to stop.

But he continued at speeds of up to 70mph in 30mph limits, swerving around corners and almost losing control.

When officers found the car abandoned in a wooded area in Devon Road they noted it had First Response across the bonnet and Ambulance Officer on the rear.

Inside were paramedic jackets and other medical fist aid equipment.

When arrested the driver, Liam Hollohan,claimed to be a registered paramedic on the way home from work and said he owned a company sub-contracted to the NHS to provide emergency response.

He added he had been trained to drive “in response conditions”.

But the 22-year-old eventually admitted it was all fantasy and that he worked at Menzies distribution centre in Aylesford.

Hollohan, of White Road, Chatham, added that he bought a uniform on the internet and posed as a paramedic to impress friends and family.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, after admitting dangerous driving and having no insurance.

He was banned for 18 months and will have to take an extended test before his licence is returned.

Judge Jeremy Carey told Hollohan, who lives with his grandmother: “This is quite extraordinary behaviour and there appears to be nothing that makes it explicable.

“Your fantasy of being a paramedic is a concern. I hope unpaid work will give you a long time to reflect on your stupid and serious offending.”