MOTORIST John Mullarkey has been jailed for 12 months after he was chased by police at speeds of up to 126mph along the M40, while twice over the drink-drive limit.

Mullarkey, 53, of South Park, Gerrards Cross, was found guilty of dangerous driving when he appeared before Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday.

Mullarkey had denied the charge, claiming he was unaware police wanted him to stop during the 21-mile chase on April 16, last year. But he admitted to driving with excess alcohol.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, said Mullarkey was stopped in his Audi Quatro TT in Denham after a police "stinger" spiked device was put across the road.

Mr Reid said police had tried to get the defendant to stop in Beaconsfield but he ignored sirens and flashing lights and sped through the town at 60mph.

He was chased as he then reached speeds of 100mph on the A355 and 126mph on the motorway and twice shunted and damaged a police car which was trying to stop him.

Mr Reid said that when he was arrested, Mullarkey was found to have 76 microgrammes of alcohol in his system, more than twice the legal limit of 35.

Mullarkey said he had initially driven off from his home because he claimed he had been threatened by a stranger with a gun.

Michael Latham, defending, said Mullarkey had recently faced the breakdown of his marriage and businesses as well as drinking excessively

Judge David Jack said: "You created appalling danger in wet weather but it was worse than that because you were driving under the influence of alcohol you were more than twice over the legal limit."

Mullarkey was jailed for 12 months for dangerous driving and banned from driving for four years. No separate penalty was imposed for driving with excess alcohol.