A BETWS driver led police officers on a high speed chase because "his friends were carrying drugs".

Swansea Crown Court heard how Adam Guest led officers on the five-mile chase before abandoning the car and running away.

Prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton told the court that the 21-year-old was being followed by police on November 5 last year near Hendy. Guest responded by driving off at speed.

During the chase Guest turned off the headlights on his car in a bid to lose the police and drove the wrong way down the off-slip at the A483 junction near Tycroes, narrowly missing an oncoming car.

The defendant raced towards Tycroes at a speed reaching 90mph. He turned onto Heol Brown and the car stopped and people got out and made-off on foot. The police gave chase but the trio got away.

The following day Guest, along with his father, went to Ammanford police station where he was interviewed by police.

He said he had driven off from police because his friends in the car were carrying drugs.

Guest, of Ffordd y Glowyr, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for a constable and driving with no insurance.

Tom Scapens, for Guest, said: "It was a remarkable display of immaturity, and a want to be liked by the wrong people."

Judge Geraint Walters said given the defendant's lack of previous convictions he was prepared to take the exceptional step of not sending him to prison.

He gave Guest credit for his guilty please and sentenced him to six months in prison - suspended for two year. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work along with a rehabilitation course.

Guest was banned from driving for 12 months and was instructed to complete an extended test before he can get his licence back.