A DANGEROUS driver who managed to speed away from police cars three times was only caught after he crashed into a fence.

Anthony Coupland, 34, was serving a suspended sentence and was twice the drink drive limit when he got behind the wheel of a BMW 320D in April.

He entered the dock in Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday carrying two hold-alls and handed a packet of cigarettes to a member of the public gallery as he prepared for a prison sentence.

Limit - Anthony Coupland was more than twice the drink drive limitLimit - Anthony Coupland was more than twice the drink drive limit (Image: Newsquest) The court heard police officers spotted Coupland driving erratically in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, in the early hours of the morning, and tried to pull him over.

Coupland, of Hunwick Road, Colchester, sped off at 80mph when he saw the police, and officers were unable to pursue him because the driver in the police vehicle had not received pursuit training.

Callum Munday, prosecuting, said police saw Coupland again in Ipswich Road and Mill Road shortly before 4am, but the defendant evaded officers on both occasions.

Police finally caught Coupland - who did not have a driving licence and had 97mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - when he crashed into fencing at the Goring Road junction with Ipswich Road.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

He climbed out of the car and tried to run off before he was arrested.

Coupland later admitted dangerous driving, drink driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and failing to stop for the police.

Mr Munday said Coupland was serving a suspended sentence imposed in January for knife possession, and had 26 convictions for 52 offences which date back to when he was a teenager.

Siobhan Livingston, mitigating, said Coupland has suffered from depression and had a disadvantaged background owing to his mother’s drug and alcohol misuse.

Judge Richard Kelly said Coupland had completed only four hours of unpaid work since he was given a community order in January, but had been working weekend shifts as a roofer to earn money.

He said: “Every time he can do unpaid work there’s an excuse, and he’s working for money in the meantime.

Collision - Anthony Coupland crashed a BMW in Goring RoadCollision - Anthony Coupland crashed a BMW in Goring Road (Image: Google Street View) “Why is he able to work for money but not complete unpaid work? I find that extraordinary.”

He adjourned sentencing until Christmas Eve so a report can be prepared by the probation service.