A learner driver led police officers on a 12 mile car chase along the M20 at 100mph for most of the journey.

But a judge has slammed the fact it took more than a year before the driver from Dartford was charged - despite making admissions at the police station.

Judge Martin Husseyin said: "It has taken a ridiculous amount of time for this case to come before the court."

Daniel Wannacott, 33, of Wodehouse Road, finally pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and having cannabis in his blue Skoda in April 2018

Prosecutor Trevor Wright told Maidstone Crown Court he had driven through a service station at junction 8 at 45mph after panicking after losing control when he crossed the central reservation and almost smashed into a police car.

He said: "He stopped briefly before heading on the southbound section of the M20."

Wannacott, a £700-a-week steel erector, later told officers his driving had been "terrible and disgusting" and when told the speed he went through the service station, he replied: "Oh my god!"

Mr Wright said as he sped through the service station he narrowly missed a reversing lorry before his Skoda reached speeds of 100mph during the 12 mile chase which only ended when one of his tyres burst.

Although he wasn't charged with the offence, Wannacott was also one and a half times over the drink drive limit and had taken cocaine hours earlier.

Peter Forbes, defending said it was the anniversary in April 2018 of the death of his baby, who had lived for just 40 minutes.

"He knows that is not an excuse but that was the reason he was drinking that day and this happened in the early hours of the morning.

"He went for a drive and was about to turn around and head back to Dartford when he lost control and skidded towards the parked police car. He just panicked."

Wannacott has since received counselling to deal with his grief over the death of his baby 17 years ago.

The judge told him: "Your driving was appalling on this occasion and when I first looked at the papers I thought that prison would be inevitable.

"Driving like that puts the lives of police officers at risk but there are exceptional circumstances allowing me to suspend the sentence."

Wannacott was given a 10 month sentence suspended for two years and must carry out 220 hours of unpaid work for the community.

He was also fined £75 on the cannabis charge and pay £350 court costs.

The judge also also disqualified him from driving for two years and ordered him to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back.

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