AN “utterly reckless” driver led police on a high-speed chase through Basingstoke reaching speeds of over 100mph, a court has heard.

A judge said it was fortunate Paul Houston, 43, did not seriously injure or kill anyone when he took his Audi A6 out for a joy ride and led officers on a four-minute pursuit.

The drama only ended when police lost Houston, of Fairfields Road, Basingstoke, due to excessive speed.

Officers gave chase when they saw the father of one driving at speed on the M3 at 11.16pm on May 20 this year.

The officers activated their blue lights and began a pursuit as Houston drove through red lights and failed to stop at roundabouts, prosecutor Martin Lahiffe told Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

“They managed to keep with the car in the early part of it, they come to the first section he went through a set of red traffic lights at that stage still going at 50 mph,” Mr Lahiffe said.

The court was shown video captured a camera in the police car of Houston driving onto the ring road and around the town centre.

Mr Lahiffe continued: “Gaps start to open up, he is driving in excess of 100mph. They had to increase their speed to keep up with him. Again he goes across a roundabout at this stage in excess of 70mph.”

On the night of the chase the IT security worker had gone to the kebab van close to where he was living alone at the time.

A member of the Probation Service said: “He had gone on the motorway, with no need to go on the motorway, with the intention of joy riding.”

He told the court that a “red mist came down” over Houston who “didn’t act rationally”.

They added: “He had been drinking on his own on that day. He claims to be abstinent since that offence.”

In mitigation, Rebecca Upton said her client realises that his actions were “dangerous, utterly reckless and unnecessary”.

She continued: “He recognises the impact that he could have had on others. He realises this is something he needs to be very grateful for because the consequences could have been much more grave.

“It is clear he is a man with issues surrounding impulsivity.”

Houston has now sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous and the church to remain abstinent.

The court was told that Houston is the sole provider for his family and if he was imprisoned the family could lose their home and he could lose his job.

Houston previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and refusing to stop at an earlier hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court.

In sentencing, Judge Susan Evans QC said that the defendant displayed “highly foolish behaviour” on the night of the offence.

Houston was given a six-month sentence suspended for 24 months and must complete 150 hours unpaid work, along with a thinking skills programme and 10 rehabilitation days.

He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months.