A DRINK-DRIVER raced past police at more than twice the speed limit in a show car, York Crown Court heard.

Richard Clews, prosecuting, said that Daniel Graham Horsley, 29, was twice the legal alcohol limit during his 70mph midnight journey up Monkgate and on to Huntington Road.

When police gave chase, Horsley and a friend abandoned the car and fled into a block of flats in Ramsey Close, where officers ran them to ground.

Recorder Geoffrey Marson QC said that if he had injured anyone, he would have been jailed.

Instead, he ordered the nuclear power worker to carry out 120 hours' community punishment, ordered him to pay £1,250 in a fine and costs and banned him from driving for 18 months. He also ordered Horsley to take an extended driving test.

Horsley, of Braeside, Seaton, Workington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink-driving.

Mr Clews said police were talking to someone else at about midnight in Monkgate when Horsley sped past at about 70mph. The speed limit there is 30mph.

He took the Monkgate roundabout at 50mph and accelerated back up to 70mph in Huntington Road before stopping, reversing and going round the pursuing police car into Ramsey Close.

For Horsley, Paul Williams said he believed he had never exceeded 50mph. He had never been in trouble before.

His vehicle was a show car which he took to motor shows. He had been visiting York and had decided to move it to a safe place because he feared it might be damaged, when he unwittingly passed the police officers.

Updated: 10:31 Tuesday, March 25, 2003