A disqualified driver who led police on a pursuit through Hampton and Yaxley claimed he wasn’t the one behind the wheel.

A 999 call was made at about 7.30pm on October 25 last year, reporting a suspected burglary in progress at a building site in Aqua Drive, Hampton Water, Peterborough.

Traffic officers who were nearby came bumper-to-bumper with Michael Murray, 47, and his 20-year-old passenger trying to leave the new-build housing site in a flatbed van.

With his path blocked, Murray reversed through the estate and used construction access routes to make his escape onto London Road.

Back-up units were called in as Murray was pursued through Yaxley where he swerved through traffic, drove on the wrong side of carriageways, through red traffic lights, and narrowly missed other drivers.

After ramming police cars alongside him on the A1M, Murray, of Fen View, Stanground, was blocked by the officers on the motorway near Stilton and arrested but claimed he wasn’t the one driving.

Enquiries confirmed nothing had been stolen from the construction site, therefore no action was taken in relation to the reported burglary, however Murray was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance, all of which he admitted in court.

He appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (August 2) where he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 20 months and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

He must complete a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and must adhere to a curfew between 9pm and 6am for the next three months, which will be monitored via an electronic tag.

PC Curtis Quirk, who investigated, said: “Murray has had several driving bans in the past and was on one at the time of this incident after being convicted of driving offences in April last year.

“His standard of driving was described by one of the pursuing officers as some of the worst he has witnessed, clearly showing a complete disregard to all other road users by risking their lives and those of our officers. Thankfully the pursuit ended before anyone was seriously injured.

“I would like to thank the person who called us to report the suspicious activity at the building site, this enabled us to deploy to what appeared to be a ‘crime in action’ and ultimately make the arrest.”