SPARKS flew from the wheel rim of a Mercedes as a drunk driver raced police despite losing a tyre.A court heard how Jeffrey Arnold was involved in a high-speed chase with police even after one of his rear tyres disintegrated.

SPARKS flew from the wheel rim of a Mercedes as a drunk driver raced police despite losing a tyre.

A court heard how Jeffrey Arnold was involved in a high-speed chase with police even after one of his rear tyres disintegrated.

Arnold, 46, of Geneva Road, Ipswich, was only two months into a ban for drink driving when the chase took place late on August 31.

When he was finally arrested and blood tested at Ipswich police station he was over the limit. Arnold's blood reading was 121mg per 100ml – the legal limit is 80mg.

He was jailed for four months at South-East Suffolk Magistrates Court after admitting drink driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop for a police officer.

Patricia Doggitt, prosecuting, said a police patrol on A14 was first alerted to Arnold by the smell of burning rubber.

Two officers in the car saw his Mercedes listing heavily to one side as it left the road at the Seven Hills exit.

Miss Doggitt said the car pulled off the slip road into the verge as the unmarked police car approached.

But Arnold then sped off again, with the police car giving chase.

Miss Doggitt said Arnold's Mercedes was cornered in a cul-de-sac, but he managed to turn around and race back out of the road, heading back towards the A14.

The chase came to an end back on the A14 when Arnold skidded across the carriageway, crashing into a fence.

Miss Doggitt said Arnold escaped on foot, but was arrested about 1/3 of a mile down the road by a police officer heading towards the crash scene.

Neil Saunders, defending, said there was little he could say on his client's behalf.

Mr Saunders said Arnold was aware of the likely outcome of the case, but urged magistrates to order pre-sentence reports to assess his drink problem.

But magistrates said reports were likely to make little difference to the eventual sentence and jailed Arnold for four months.

He was also banned from driving for a further three years.