A MAN who led police on a high-speed chase despite having two burst tyres has been warned he faces a prison sentence.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Ashley Michael Wood, 23, had driven over a police stinger in Manchester Road, Burnley, during the pursuit with officers on June 18.

That caused one front and one rear tyre to burst but rather than stop, Wood continued to try to evade capture.

CCTV footage played in court showed Wood driving over speed dumps in Harold Lane at 40mph, before reaching speeds of up to 54mph going along Accrington Road which has a speed limit 30.

Prosecuting, Stephen Parker said as Wood approached the junction with Rossendale Road he was driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone.

Mr Parker said: “You can see the left tyre is hanging off the side. Some debris falls off the tyre and flies towards the police vehicle. You can see the right tyre disintegrating.”

Mr Parker said Wood came to a stop close to Burnley Crematorium when he could no longer control the steering on the vehicle.

Wood, of Burnley Road East, Whitewell Bottom, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Defending, Jonathan Norman said: “He is 23-years- old. He is very lightly convicted.

“He left school with GCSEs. He had a difficult time at school. He suffers with ADHD. He was a problem child, always in trouble. Quite often he just took the wrong course of action, which is what he did on this occasion.

“He has no knowledge of the police pursuing him at the start. But then it was a moment of madness. The red mist took over. Had he stopped he may well not have faced any charges. “

Mr Norman said his client had set up his own courier business just under six months ago.And although the defendant realised he would be banned from driving, he was confident he would be able to run it from behind a desk if he was given a suspended prison sentence.

Judge Lunt issued Wood with an interim driving ban and adjourned sentencing until September 18 to allow the defendant to put his business affairs in order.

She said: “It seems to me there is going to be a prison sentence imposed on you. I hear there are various things going on in your life. I suggest you take the necessary steps to ensure your business will run, even if you’re not there to run it.”