A remorseful dangerous driver who flouted the speed limit and drove on the wrong side of the road as police chased him has avoided a jail sentence.

Jamie Pretlove was driving a white Smart Car when he was chased by police between St Albans and Radlett on October 30 last year.

But the pursuing officer gave up the chase due to the speed Pretlove was driving at.

He was later located in another car.

Pretlove, of Alexander Road, London Colney, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

The court heard how the 29-year-old had been driving in St Albans when an officer noticed him and signalled for him to stop.

Prosecutor David Stanton said that Pretlove did not respond after the officer put on the blue lights and carried on driving.

The court heard that the officer pursued Pretlove towards Radlett, with the defendant having driving at 50mph to 60mph in a 40mph area.

The pursuit also reached speeds of 70mph at one point and the defendant had also passed temporary traffic lights on the wrong side of the road.

As he reached Radlett town centre, Mr Stanton said the officer gave up the pursuit due to the speeds Pretlove was driving at.

However, the car was later found locked and abandoned at a cricket club. 

The defendant was later seen in the passenger seat of another car and it was then that he admitted straight away what he had done.

Pretlove, who was representing himself in court, admitted that he had made a “serious mistake” and had been going through a break-up at the time of the incident.

He said he took full responsibility for the incident and could only apologise for his actions.

Pretlove also told the court that he works for DHL and has helped recruit people over the coronavirus pandemic.

Sentencing Pretlove, Judge Grey said the defendant had engaged in an “extremely bad piece of driving” and warned him he could have faced a custodial sentence.

But Pretlove avoided jail and was given an eight-month sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and given a three-month curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Pretlove was also banned from driving for several months and ordered to pay £250.

  • Pretlove also pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of that class. He was fined £166 for that offence by magistrates at St Albans