A motorist who drove the wrong way down two one-way streets and through a red light during a high speed police chase around the centre of Bury St Edmunds has been jailed for 10 months.

David Youngs ignored attempts by officers in a marked police car to get him to stop and at times reached speeds of up to 60mph in an area with a the 30mph limit during the mile-long chase, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Police began following a VW Passat driven by Youngs at 2.20am after seeing the vehicle parked outside the Arc shopping centre.

Although he initially pulled over when it was indicated that he should stop, he drove off when an officer got out of her car to speak to him, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

The siren and flashing lights were activated on the police car but Youngs made off at speed and jumped a red light in Parkway before driving the wrong way along two one-way streets.

Other police officers put down a stinger device in the road and this caused Youngs’ car to swerve, said Mr Crimp. Shortly afterwards the car slowed down and Youngs ran off, pursued by officers.

He was arrested and refused to provide a breath, blood or urine specimen after officers noticed the smell of alcohol, said Mr Crimp.

Youngs, 34, of Manchester, admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen and was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for 30 months.

The court heard that Youngs had been banned from driving for a drink driving offence in 2009.

Greg Perrins for Youngs said his client had been working in Suffolk at the time of the offences and accepted his behaviour had been “stupid and extremely reckless”.

He said no-one had been injured and no property or vehicles had been damaged.