A driver who led police on a high speed chase through Bexley after taking off while officers were giving him a speeding ticket has been hit with a ban.

Thomas Sales, 27, was caught doing 51mph in a 40mph zone in his Vauxhall Astra in North Cray Road at 1.10pm on December 2.

He got out of the car to speak to officers who had pulled him over to issue a ticket before suddenly jumping back in and speeding off in the direction of Bexley.

Sales then performed a u-turn on the dual carriageway and pulled straight out at the roundabout with Maidstone Road, causing another car to break heavily as he took the first exit towards Swanley.

Another quick u-turn followed before the Vauxhall mounted the kerb to avoid traffic as Sales took the Sandy Lane exit.

Officers chased him at speeds of up to 80mph before Sales pulled over on Sweeps Lane in St Mary Cray, flung away his keys and gave himself up.

Unemployed Sales, of Combe Bank Drive in Sundridge near Sevenoaks, entered written guilty pleas to charges of speeding, driving a car without due care and attention and driving without wearing a seatbelt.

Today at Bexley Magistrates’ Court he was sentenced in his absence.

Bench chair Sue Hirschfield handed Sales a six month driving ban and ordered him to pay £250 costs, fines totalling £230 and a £20 victim surcharge.