Man jailed after 'dangerous' 127mph police chase

Dean Mayo continued to drive on flat tyres after puncturing them with a police stinger device

A holidaymaker has been jailed for a year and four months after he tried to outrun police in a 127mph (204 km/h) chase on the M5, a court has heard.

Dean Mayo, 28, of no fixed address in Birmingham, was pursued for 35 miles through Somerset and Devon on 22 March.

He stopped near Cullompton in Devon and fled on foot before police found him hiding in nearby bushes.

At Exeter Crown Court, Mayo admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

He also admitted having no insurance.

The chase took place about two months after West Midlands Police had issued an appeal to trace Mayo, who was wanted for recall to prison.

'Highly dangerous' driving

At the time of the chase, Mayo had been banned from driving due to two previous driving convictions.

Judge James Adkin, who also extended his existing driving ban for a year, said Mayo had driven "in a highly dangerous manner".

He said: "You drove in a highly dangerous manner at 80mph on the hard shoulder and 127mph on the M5.

"After a stinger was applied, you continued to drive on deflated tyres and eventually fled the vehicle and were arrested."Zoe Kuyken, defending, said Mayo had borrowed a friend's car with permission, and was driving to Cornwall for a holiday when he was stopped.

Mayo apologised to police at the scene, and was keen to rehabilitate himself in prison, the court heard.