A driver seen “power-sliding” his souped-up BMW around a roundabout moments before police seized the car insists he won’t give up “drifting” on Kent’s public roads.

Warren Lees, from Sandwich, has so far been fined a total of £7,000 and lost his licence three times.

But although he admits his hobby has “cost me dear”, the unapologetic petrolhead told KentOnline it is a price worth paying to pursue his passion.

He says he has no choice but to use public roads – because neither “the council” or anyone else is providing a suitable track for enthusiasts like him, adding: “We are not hooligans.”

The 34-year-old’s latest exploits were recorded for the popular YouTube channel Motor Addicts.

Tyres screeching and smoking, Mr Lees is filmed drifting his modified 450bhp BMW sideways around roundabouts on the A256 near Sandwich.

But he is soon spotted by police, who pull him over and seize his beloved car.

It emerged that Mr Lees had previously been cautioned under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act about his “nuisance” driving and warned that his car would be seized.

And following the latest incident, caught on camera, his car was impounded and he was issued with a traffic offence report for careless driving.

Police described his antics as “nuisance driving” and they hope seizing the car sends a message to others, warning: “Your behaviour won't be tolerated and we will take action against you.”

Readers also expressed their concerns, with one commenting: “Someone will be hurt or worse, with a group of speeding idiots screeching around roundabouts.

“There are always lorries coming along that road at the same time.”

But after having his modified BMW 3 Series returned the following day, Mr Lees commented on the Facebook page of our sister paper, the East Kent Mercury: “Car at home safe now .. out tonight guys if anyone wants to come and watch.”

Speaking to KentOnline this week, Mr Lees insisted his driving is safe and he is in complete control of the car having been “drifting” for 15 years.

“I know it might look bad to some people, but I always pick a time and place when it’s quiet and back off if other cars are around,” he said.

“The fact is that the drift car scene is huge in Kent but we have nowhere to go and councils aren’t interested in helping us with our hobby.

“We even approached Manston airport as the old runway would be ideal but they weren’t interested either.

“You can do track days at places like Lydden and Brands Hatch but they don’t allow drifting and you get black-flagged.

“Somewhere just to go once a month is all we need and we have the money to pay for it.

“Right now, we are having to travel as far as Cornwall to find a drift track.”

Mr Lees, a former marine engineer, says he has spent £15,000 modifying his car for drifting and now has a business called E46 Drift Builds, working on customers’ cars.

But his stunt driving has also cost him thousands in fines and he has been banned from the road three times.

“We are not hooligans. My car is fully insured for its modifications and mechanically sound...”

Yet he says it is a price worth paying to indulge his passion and try to boost publicity for his campaign for a drift track in Kent.

“I understand that to other drivers it could look alarming and I don’t want to encourage inexperienced drivers to try it as it can go bad in the wrong hands,” he said.

“But we are not hooligans. My car is fully insured for its modifications and mechanically sound.

“I am also respectful and co-operative with the police when they have stopped me.”

Mr Lees says he was approached by the Motor Addicts YouTube channel for a film about his drift car and the video it uploaded has now been viewed almost 16,000 times.

“I thought it would also be a way of getting the message out there that we need somewhere to go for our hobby,” he added.

But it backfired when he was caught by police demonstrating drifting last week and now he awaits another court date.

A spokesman for the Margate-based Motor Addicts team said: "We understand how frustrated Warren is with the lack of tracks in Kent for drifters like him to go out and do what they love in a safe environment.

"Drivers who live here have to travel hundreds of miles to places like Cornwall or Yorkshire to access suitable facilities.

"However, we would never condone driving on local roads in that manner.

"People need to be aware of the dangers of doing so - both to themselves and others - and to know that the police could seize their car or even take away their licence."

Following the impounding of the car, Dover District Commander DCI Keith Taylor said: “Nuisance driving of this kind has an impact on other road users and residents and I am aware of concerns in the Sandwich area about the issue.

“I hope the seizure of this vehicle and the further proceedings the driver now faces sends out a message to others who might drive in this way – your behaviour won't be tolerated and we will take action against you.”

The car's seizure took place in Kent Police’s ‘Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week’ and was only returned to Mr Lees after recovery and storage charges were paid.

But the force says it can apply for further confiscation of the vehicle when the owner appears in court.