A dangerous driver who had taken cocaine to stay awake to help care for his sick baby, was clocked going 120mph on the A47, near Norwich, in a bid to escape police, a court heard.

Oliver Elton, 20, refused to stop for police after he was seen driving his VW Golf erratically near the Thickthorn roundabout and he accelerated away in a bid to evade officers, Norwich Crown Court heard.

William Carter, prosecuting, said Elton was clocked reaching a speed of 120mph on the A47 before he then swerved onto the A140 Ipswich Road. He then drove to The Street in Poringland, where he mounted a pavement to avoid a traffic queue. He ran off from the vehicle in Trafalgar Square, but was found hiding in bushes.

He said that Elton was arrested and when tested had cocaine in his system.

Elton, of Nelson Close, Harleston, admitted dangerous driving on May 2 this year, drug driving, driving while disqualified and no insurance.

Andrew Oliver, for Elton, said that at the time of the offence he had just returned from the hospital from visiting his baby son, who had been born with a serious heart defect.

He said Elton had taken cocaine to stay awake.

'He was getting next to no sleep and was having to try to provide support and help. He had consumed cocaine in an effort to stay awake. He is not someone that consumes drugs generally.'

He said Elton accepted he had made a 'stupid and foolish' decision not to stop for police, as he knew he was banned.

Judge Stephen Holt imposed a 14 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and banned him from driving for three years.

He said it had been a 'disgraceful' piece of driving in which he could have killed himself or other road users but said he would give him one last chance.

Judge Holt accepted Elton had been under a huge amount of stress at the time but warned 'Take this opportunity. This is your one last chance.'