Watch as disqualified driver swigs from bottle of vodka in Cambridge after chase along A14 and A428 and through red lights

A “reckless” disqualified and uninsured driver swigged from a bottle of vodka as he was arrested after a police chase during which he drove through five sets of red lights and went the wrong way around a roundabout.

Shane Smith, 34, of no fixed above, was spotted by officers on patrol at about 2am on Sunday (8 June) as he drove a white Renault Kangoo van along the A10 without any rear lights.

Further checks revealed the vehicle was linked to criminality, so the officers attempted to pull it over.

But Smith failed to stop for police and instead led them on a chase along the A14, A428 and eventually into Mere Way, Cambridge.

Smith drove through five sets of red traffic lights, driving the wrong way round a roundabout and swerving across the roads.

He eventually got out of the driver’s side, holding a bottle of beer and swigging from a bottle of vodka as police moved in to arrest him.

In custody, further checks showed he had been disqualified from driving since 2018 and had not completed a test since.

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday (9 June), Smith pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failure to stop for police, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and failure to provide a specimen for analysis.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and disqualified from driving for three years and four months.

PC Wadsworth, from the road policing unit, said: “Smith’s driving fell far below the standard of a careful and competent driver and all officers following him witnessed manoeuvres, speeds and actions undertaken by him that could have resulted in serious injury or death to either himself or another member of the public.

“His behaviour was reckless and demonstrated a contempt for the laws, safety on the road and the legal system.”