A man accused of driving at twice the 30mph speed limit in a residential area while being pursued by police, before crashing his car into railings, was spared jail on Friday.

Caernarfon crown court heard a pedestrian had been avoided narrowly by the VW Golf in Llanelian Road, Old Colwyn.

Prosecutor Jemma Gordon said 23-year-old Ben Burgess, of Pencoed Road, Llanddulas, who admitted dangerous driving, had been taken to hospital. He had been under the drink-drive limit when a reading was taken.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said pub worker Burgess had a troubled upbringing and was driving so quickly “because of the breakdown of his mental health.”

The police car’s blue lights were switched on 15 seconds before the crash.

Judge Huw Rees said Burgess had two pints of beer at a pub. He’d then driven along Abergele Road at Colwyn Bay towards Old Colwyn.

The judge told him: “You were driving at speeds reaching between 60 and 70mph in a 30mph residential area. As you approached a corner you lost control of your vehicle and caused the vehicle to spin and collide substantially with metal railings, turning your car on its side.

“This is a serious piece of offending. What you did could have ended very differently indeed. Someone could have been seriously injured or even killed. But the dangerous driving lasted seconds," the judge added.

A six months suspended jail term was imposed and a twelve months driving ban and extended test. The defendant must do 150 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity.