A TEENAGER led police on a high speed chase through Wroughton and Swindon while high on cannabis.

Joshua McLeod’s driving was labelled “outrageous” by the police officer who chased him from Barbury Castle to Swindon town centre last March. He went through red lights, the wrong-way around roundabouts and hit 70mph in 30 zones.

But the 19-year-old was spared an immediate jail sentence after a judge at Swindon Crown Court heard the youngster had no previous convictions and was deemed a low risk of reconviction by the probation service.

Imposing 10 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge Jason Taylor QC said: “If you breach that suspended sentence you will be brought back to court and the presumption is you will go to prison. I don’t think that will happen with you. Take this opportunity to make something of your life.”

Earlier, prosecutor Lucie Stoker told the court police officers had knocked on the window of a Mitsubishi Carisma parked up near Barbury Castle in the early hours of Sunday, March 8. They could smell cannabis coming from the vehicle.

McLeod, who was in the driver’s seat, refused to wind down the window and made off at speed. He would later say he panicked as he did not have a licence.

It took the officers several minutes to catch up with the car. McLeod – who had his friend in the car - went through Wroughton and Swindon at speed, hitting 80mph in 40mph zones and 70mph on roads with 30mph limits.

Ms Stoker said: “The vehicle went through numerous red lights without braking or hesitation. The officer notes he was concerned the lives of other innocent members of the public were put at risk as a result of that manoeuvre.

“The manoeuvres he describes as ‘outrageous’, such as going the wrong way round one roundabout and straight over numerous mini-roundabouts.”

As the Mitsubishi approached Swindon town centre, which was still busy with people out on a Saturday night, officers called off their pursuit.

They caught up with McLeod a short time later. When he was arrested he told police his driving wasn’t that bad and he hadn’t put anyone at risk. He later told probation that the comment – dismissed by Judge Taylor as “plainly wrong” – was a result of male bravado.

Tests at the police station showed McLeod was more than three times the drug drive limit for cannabis.

McLeod, of Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to dangerous driving, drug driving, driving without a licence or insurance and possession of cannabis.

Rob Ross, defending, said: “This is a young man who’s never, never darkened the door of a police station before. He’s someone who keeps himself to himself.

“By getting himself into trouble it’s quite apparent I think he will get the intervention he’s probably been lacking over the last two or three years.”

His family was supportive of him. He was living with a family friend, looking for work and hoped to return to college.

In a verbal report, probation officer Claire Hyde said McLeod was a low risk of reconviction. He experienced poor mental health and had used cannabis since the age of 13, although had not been smoking the class B drug before leading police on the high-speed chase.

As part of his suspended sentence, McLeod must complete 150 hours of unpaid work, 36 hours at the attendance centre and up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was banned from driving for two years and must pass an extended retest if he wants to drive again.