A pay clerk who acted “out of character” by leading police on a high speed chase of up to 130mph, jumping red lights, was only stopped by a police stinger device.

36-year-old Steven Smith could give no reason for jumping a red light and speeding off from police after they pulled up behind him on Wednesday, September 16.

At St Albans Crown Court Friday Smith, of Douglas Avenue, Watford, was banned from driving for 15 months and given a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Andrew Lewis, prosecuting, said officers in a marked police car pulled up behind Smith as he waited at a set of traffic lights at a junction off the M1.

As the cars drove off Smith went through the first light when it turned green, but carried on through another after it turned red and then drove through another set of red lights.

The police car put on its blue light and siren, but rather than pull over Smith led police on a chase on and off the M1 undertaking vehicles, doing U-turns and driving at speeds of up to 130mph.

A police helicopter was deployed and Smith was stopped in Leverstock Green Way, Hemel Hempstead after a stinger device thrown in front of his Vauxhall Vectra punctured the tyres.

A prepared statement Smith gave to police was read to the court.

He said: “I panicked and drove in a ridiculous manner. I wish to apologise and think I may have suffered from anxiety.

“I am upset with myself and sincerely hope I won't do something like this again.”

Two days before the offence Smith received three penalty points for driving through a red light.

He is of previous good character apart from a dissimilar matter ten years ago.

Representing himself Smith said he hopes to become a surveyor in the future.

He said: “It was very out of character to do something like this.

“I regret it and consider what I have done very serious.

“I did panic when I saw the police car and it went from there.

“I cannot justify what I did or properly explain it. I don't think it would happen again.”

Imposing sentence, Judge Gullick said: “This was an appalling piece of driving. You were fortunate not to drive into anybody or anything.

“If you are going up and down the M1 at 130mph and doing U-turns and going through red lights you present a danger to all sorts of people.

“The police stopped you with a stinger but the chase lasted half an hour.

“There was a potential to do serious injury to you, other road users or police officers.

“I accept this is out of character and you regret it and realise how stupid it was.”

Smith will be supervised by probation for two years and was ordered to pay £240 costs.