A 20-YEAR-OLD man who lead police on a prolonged, high speed pursuit later told officers he was shocked by the way he had driven and pledged never to do it again.

But Blackburn magistrates heard nine days later Joshua Houlgrave embarked on an even more horrifying piece of dangerous driving which took in three towns and lasted 28 minutes.

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The court was told he reached speeds of over 90 mph in 30mph zones, went through numerous red lights and forced other vehicles, including two HGVs, to take evasive action as he drove from Blackburn, through Darwen to Bolton and back to Darwen.

Police twice deployed a stinger, once in Bolton and once in Darwen and when the chase came to an end his car had lost a tyre.

Houlgrave, of Audley Range, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance or driving licence on February 1 and the same three offences on February 10.

He was sent in custody to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the first incident started at 4.10am when some kind of firework was thrown from a car towards a police vehicle.

The car raced off and went through a red light onto Blackburn’s Buncer Lane where it travelled on the wrong side of the road at 70mph.

The court heard it was driven through more red lights and reached 75mph as it raced up Shear Brow, St James Road, Earl Street, Brookhouse, Whalley Range and Barbara Castle Way.

Miss Allan said it turned onto Eanam and was travelling at 50mph on the wrong side of the road when a car coming in the opposite direction swerved and narrowly avoided a collision.

When the car stopped people got out and tried to run away but they were apprehended.

“When he was interviewed the defendant said he was shocked by his driving which he said he realised fell far below the standard,” said Miss Allan.

“He said he felt sick about what he had done and wouldn’t be doing it again. Within two weeks he was doing it again while he was on bail for the first set of offences.”

During the second episode the car driven by Houlgrave almost hit a HGV as he went through a red light and collided with a police car as he tried to force his way past it.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said his client accepted the matters were too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates court and did not wish to apply for bail.