A motorist, whose 40-minute car chase at more than twice the speed limit involved a police helicopter, fled from a courtroom this afternoon.

Sean Whitlock, 26, who had raced through red lights, on the wrong side of roads, along a pavement, avoiding two 'stinger' traps, jumped from dock seconds after being given a jail sentence.

He pulled away from a security officer as family members begged him not to run away.

Whitlock got away, leaving behind a sleeve of his grey sweater in the hands of the guard and ran out of Court Four.

But he was prevented from leaving the building by Canterbury Crown Court security staff and then handcuffed before being led to the cells, apologising, telling staff: “I am sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Earlier he had pleaded with the Judge Recorder Stuart Trimmer to suspend the jail sentence, but was told the driving had been too dangerous.

He was given a 14-month jail sentence and a two-year-and-seven-month driving ban

The court was told how Whitlock - a twice-banned driver - was spotted at the wheel of a car by police but then raced away.

Police had to scramble a helicopter to track the fleeing Vauxhall Corsa as it sped into a pedestrian-only area.

Whitlock, of St Benedict's Lawn, Ramsgate, eventually dumped the vehicle but was nabbed by officers using the chopper's thermal-imaging camera.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler told how an officer in Westwood Road, Broadstairs, spotted Whitlock’s car at 12.15am last September driving at speed on the wrong side of the road.

“The officer followed the car along Northwood Road, driving at 70mph just to keep up with the Corsa which was going through residential roads with a 30mph restriction.

“Whitlock drove through red lights without slowing and along Newington Road and Roman Road and taking corners at speed.”

The prosecutor said the car went into Fitzroy Avenue and, ignoring another red traffic light, and on the wrong side of a roundabout at 70mph on the London Road.

The chase continued to the Royal Harbour, past Sandwich Road on the wrong side, again through red traffic lights at 80mph.

"Whitlock ignored no-entry signs and went into a pedestrian area and a helicopter then began monitoring the car" - prosecutor Edmund Fowler

“He then headed towards the village of Manston ignoring traffic signs and onto Acol where it went around a roundabout three times before heading back the way it had come.”

Mr Fowler said that the first of two stingers, designed to stop fleeing vehicles by puncturing tyres, were then used.

Whitlock swerved around the first one, going into a field and back onto the road at 85 mph and continuing towards Birchington.

Whitlock then swerved onto a pavement to avoid a police car which had joined the chase and into St James Terrace again through red lights and onto the wrong side of the dual carriageway.

The prosecutor added that Whitlock drove over the second stinger but carried onto to Broadstairs pursued by a number of other police cars.

“That stopped when Whitlock ignored no-entry signs and went into a pedestrian area and a helicopter then began monitoring the car which had two people in it.

“Both of them decamped from the vehicle and Whitlock was traced by officers using thermal imaging and he found to have cocaine in his pocket."

Whitlock had admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possessing Class A drugs.

After the hearing, investigating officer PC Kieron Lawford said: "Whitlock showed a blatant disregard for driving laws; pursuing officers witnessed him driving at speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone, ignoring red traffic lights, and he was the worst driver they had ever seen.

"It is astonishing that nobody was killed by his driving that night and I hope he realises the severity of his actions."