A MAN accused by police of breaking pretty much “every road traffic law” during a 100 mph pursuit through Sussex has told The Argus he intends to hand himself in to protect his friends and family.

In an exclusive interview Gavin Collett told The Argus he would hand himself into police in Hampshire two days after officers confirmed him as the man they suspected of carrying-out the hair-raising, high-speed and illegal journey across Sussex.

Video and photographic footage from Thursday’s pursuit showed a biker riding through red lights without a helmet.

In total seven police cars and two helicopters were involved in the chase.

Police pursued a motorbike from Worthing into Hove and the centre of Brighton in a two-and-a-half hour operation on Thursday which ended with the suspect disappearing on foot at Churchill Square shopping centre.

Mr Collett realised the police were chasing him but he avoided them by first heading into Churchill Square shopping centre and then walking out and to a barbers for a haircut.

Sussex Police claim he then left the city in a car two hours later.

The 32-year-old said the motorcycle could not be ridden at 100 miles an hour as it hurts too much without a helmet on.

Mr Collett, who has previously been living with friends in Crawley and Portslade, has been in Hampshire since Thursday.

He told this paper he intended to hand himself in last night to avoid police officers kicking down the doors of his friends and family.

He said: “I have organised it with Hampshire Police that I will hand myself in.

“I don’t want doors being kicked in. My dad has got a respectful job, I don’t want lots of police.”

Mr Collett contacted The Argus unhappy with how he was being portrayed in other newspapers.

He appeared in the news last year when restraining orders were made against him by Sussex women he had met through online dating.

Mr Collett claimed he had been failed by public services in getting his life back on track.

He said probation officers had assigned him to a hostel in Brighton on release from prison last year when he was trying to work as a scaffolder in London.

He added: “I’m an example of how the system is failing.

“I was in the care system from eight to 18 and prison from 19 until now with only four years out.

“I’ve spent the last 11 of 14 years in prison and I have begged for proper psychiatric help.

“I have just not got the help.

“I need tools, I need an apprenticeship.”