DRIVER Michael Carpenter, who led police on a high-speed night-time chase through narrow country lanes, has been given 200 hours' community punishment and banned from driving for 18 months.

Carpenter, 30, who gave his address as Alma Place, Marlborough, pleaded guilty in January to a charge of dangerous driving and his case was adjourned until Tuesday for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.

Rachel Hume, prosecuting, told Kennet Magistrates' Court in Devizes that police had noticed a green MGF sports car parked on Marlborough Common at about 12.30am on August 13 last year. Because of the lateness of the hour, the officers wanted to check the driver's details, but when they approached, the car drove off at speed.

They followed it at speeds of up to 90mph as they tried to maintain a 150-metre distance between them and the car.

The MGF continued over Rockley Down, on to Hackpen Hill and across the A4361 towards Broad Town, rarely slowing below 60mph, taking bends on the wrong side of the road and straddling the white line for much of the way.

The car shot through the centre of Wootton Bassett at between 70mph and 80mph and across the A3102 without stopping or signalling. At a railway bridge, the sports car turned on to a gravel track with a 5mph limit at 40mph, swerving from side to side.

The car came to a halt in a farmyard where Carpenter leapt out and went into the farmhouse. The officers followed but Carpenter tried to slam the door. They prevented him from running into the house and handcuffed him. Mrs Hume said he continued to be violent and abusive.

Carpenter was arrested and taken to the police station but released on police bail.

When interviewed six weeks later, he denied the police version of events. But at his first court appearance, on January 28, he pleaded guilty as charged.

Andrew Watts-Jones, defending, admitted that it was "an extraordinary piece of driving" but said it was strange that he took the police officers all the way to his then home. His family has since sold the farm on which he lived and worked.

Mr Watts-Jones said: "He doesn't suffer from any mental illness but he has a number of problems and drove in this way at a time of great stress in his life."

He referred to a previous incident, described in the report, when Carpenter had a run-in with police officers. Mr Watts-Jones said he thought the officers were the same as those involved in the earlier event and sped off in panic.

Carpenter, who had to pay £118 court costs, will need to pass an extended driving test before he can apply for the return of his licence.