A banned driver in a Mercedes led police on a 70mph chase through residential streets before jumping out of the car - which rolled into a house

Arran Ansley, of Danesmead Terrace in Cliftonville, Margate, then failed a roadside drug-swipe test and was arrested.

Folkestone magistrates heard the 37-year-old was later charged with an array of driving offences.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, told the court the high-speed pursuit through Margate occurred on December 27 last year.

“He was driving a Mercedes which officers did checks on and the vehicle was connected to drug use and supply and officers in a marked police vehicle requested the car to stop,” Mr Sweeney said.

“However, there was a pursuit and the vehicle was driven at 70mph in residential streets which had a 30mph limit.

“Even at give-way junctions the vehicle never stopped and in Danesmead Terrace the driver jumps out as the car is still in motion and it rolls into a house.

“He is arrested and checks reveal he has no licence and a drug swipe test proved positive and he was found with the cocaine and cannabis.

“He was arrested and told officers to f*** off when they asked him to do further blood tests and he failed to provide - he refused.”

Ansley was later charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

However, after being released on bail, he continued driving despite his ban – and on February 13 of this year he was found on a BMW motorbike in Riverhead Close, Margate.

When police arrested him, officers found 5.8 grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of cannabis on him.

Ansley was further charged with another count of driving while disqualified and without insurance, as well as possession of crack cocaine and cannabis.

He appeared at Folkstone Magistrates’ Court on August 9 and pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Ansley also admitted two counts of failing to surrender to custody when he failed to turn up at Margate police station on April 19, to answer his bail, and failing to turn up at court for a hearing on July 23 this year.

The court was also told Ansley, who had been arrested on a warrant after failing to attend his court hearing last month, had lost his court letter after giving it to his mum to look after and couldn’t remember the date of his hearing.

District Judge Justin Barron decided to order a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Ansley.

He sent all the cases to crown court to be dealt with and granted Ansley bail until then so he could help care for his father.

The judge warned him not to drive again and placed him on an interim ban until then.

He also placed Ansley under tagged curfew at his Cliftonville address from 10pm to 6am every day until he is sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court, a date for which is yet to be fixed.