A man has been sentenced for the "worst mistake of his life" after speeding away at high speed from police then narrowly avoided a crash in Welshpool.

Simon Cairns, 39, of Castle Caereinion was sentenced to an 18-month community order and was disqualified from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to driving dangerously, obstructing or resisting a police constable in the execution of their duty and failing to co-operate with a preliminary test.

Prosecutor Helen Tench told Welshpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 23, that Cairns was pulled over after he didn't indicate.

Despite noting a smell of alcohol in the car, Cairns denied that he had been drinking. His passenger told the officer that three pints had been drunk that night.

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When the officer went to get a breathalyser from the police van, Cairns then drove off "at high speed" without his headlights on. The vehicle was later found half a mile away in the Erw Wen area of Welshpool.

Mrs Tench said CCTV from a nearby fuel station showed Cairns' vehicle had been sitting in the middle of the road while the female passenger got out. Cairns then went to overtake a vehicle "at speed" and "appeared to drive anticlockwise" around a roundabout when he almost collided with another vehicle.

During a police interview, Cairns said he "didn't know what came over him" but later accepted that he drove erratically to get away from the officer.

Gurleen Kaur, acting on behalf of the single father, said: "Although he is very remorseful there was no harm or injury as a consequence. It was a short-lived incident that was fuelled by panic and worry, not by illegal substances".

She disputed that Cairns drove anticlockwise but instead went over the painted mini roundabout.

"He wasn't driving at speed; he was behind the vehicle for some time which was going quite slow," she added.

Probation officer Teri Dunham shared the findings of her pre-sentence report with the court. She said Cairns told that her that he had been at a party with friends who had been smoking cannabis. He claimed that he didn't use cannabis or drink alcohol that night because he was planning to drive home.

Ms Dunham explained that Cairns made a "split second decision from fear of failing the drug test" because he had been around people who had been taking the Class B drug.

"He disputes driving erratically but he is incredibly remorseful, and this was the worst mistake of his life. He tells me he is in turmoil over his behaviour and any impact on his daughter. 

"He is incredibly remorseful and he's willing to engage with intervention."

Magistrates decided to extend the community order to 18 months for Cairns to have more time to complete it while he cares for his daughter.

Cairns, of Swallows court, Castle Caereinion, was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work "because of the seriousness of the offence".

He must also complete a compulsory extended retest before getting his driving licence back.

Cairns was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £114 victim surcharge.