A Port St Mary man has admitted dangerous driving after a high-speed chase with police.

Stephen Graham Whittaker drove away from officers despite their siren and blue lights being on.

He eventually stopped after a 20-minute chase during which police had considered it too dangerous to pursue him.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop for police and will be sentenced on November 25.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court how police received a report of ’poor driving’ on August 16 at 12.20am.

They located Whittaker, who was driving a Volkswagen Golf, at the Four Roads roundabout near Port Erin.

He was seen to enter the roundabout and go the wrong way around it in order to avoid the police car and another vehicle.

Police followed him with their blue lights and siren on and saw him drive to Edremony Estate in excess of the speed limit.

They then followed him onto Station Road as he took no notice of their siren and lights.

He was estimated by police to be driving at 70mph as he drove through a residential area with a speed limit of 30mph and revving his engine loudly.

The chase continued as Whittaker drove onto Shore Road but police then lost sight of him after they decided it was too dangerous to continue the pursuit.

However, they then saw Whittaker driving again at Four Roads roundabout and resumed the chase with lights and siren back on.

Whittaker, who lives at The Promenade, continued to drive and was described as ’swerving’ and ’weaving’ in the road.

He then pulled on the handbrake and appeared to be attempting a U-turn but eventually stopped.

Police spoke to him and a breathalyser test produced a reading of 34 - the legal limit is 35.

He was interviewed at police headquarters and responded with ’no comment’ to most questions but claimed he had been unaware of the police requesting him to stop until he pulled the handbrake on.

Whittaker said that he is half-deaf in one ear and was scared of the police. He also claimed he had not seen their blue lights.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client was ’relatively lightly convicted’ and that the chase had been ’relatively short’ lasting around 20 minutes.

’He did stop. The worst part is in respect of the roundabout,’ said the advocate.

’He has gone the wrong way and in the residential area was driving at between 50 and 70mph.

’But there was no accident and it wasn’t busy at that time of night.’

The court heard that Whittaker is currently subject to a 110-hour community service order which he has so far completed 44 hours of.

However, he was described as not currently engaging with probation.

Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks accepted summary court jurisdiction and sentencing will take place after a full probation report has been completed.

Bail continues in the sum of £500 with conditions to reside at his home address, not to drive, and to contact probation.