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A drink-driver has been jailed following a high-speed police chase through Macclesfield.

Joshua Lee Beardmore took his girlfriend’s car for a joyride while drunk.

Police pursued the 19-year-old for several miles around the town until he lost control and crashed the Ford Ka into a hedge.

Macclesfield magistrates’ court heard that the offence was committed on January 27, just five months after he was convicted of aggravated vehicle-taking and drink-driving.

Beardmore, of Pennine Court, Macclesfield, admitted taking the car without consent, driving while disqualified and without insurance, drink-driving, and driving without due care and attention.

He was sentenced to a total of 30 weeks in a young offenders’ centre and banned from driving for 40 months.

Debbie Burns, prosecuting, said: “At 4.15am Pc Powell was in an unmarked car when he saw a Ford Ka turn from Mill Street on Park Street.

“He saw the car go three times around the roundabout. When he indicated for the car to stop it sped away.

“It was pursued around the Moss Estate exceeding the speed limit. It was circling the town when it lost control at the junction of Coppice Rise and Robin Hood Avenue and came to rest in a hedge.

“Pc Powell parked his car behind the vehicle blocking its exit. As he approached the vehicle the defendant tried to reverse, damaging the police car.” Beardmore was arrested and breathalysed recording 56mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

An police investigation found his girlfriend had not given permission to take her car.

On Friday magistrates were told Beardmore had been convicted in August of aggravated vehicle-taking, taking a motor vehicle without consent, drink-driving and assaulting a police officer.

On April 7 he took two cars in the space of 20 minutes and crashed one  before fleeing the scene.

When police caught up with him he assaulted an officer and made threats to his family.

He was also found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Then on June 20, while on bail for those offences, Beardmore took another car and drove 30 miles before dumping it.

He was traced using DNA found in the car seat.

Ruth Oakes, defending, said Beardmore believed he had finally learned his lesson.