An ambulance worker who used blue lights on his own car has failed to get a driving ban overturned.

Ashley Hammond reached speeds of up to 110mph on the A27 in January because he was late for work.

He weaved in and out of traffic near Polegate and was eventually stopped by a police car on the A22.

The 26-year-old ambulance technician denied dangerous driving when he appeared before Eastbourne magistrates.

He was banned from driving for three years after he was found guilty in March.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday Hammond, of Percival Road, Eastbourne, appealed against the length of the ban.

Bridget Norfolk, prosecuting, said police in a marked car saw Hammond driving his own Ford Focus on the A27 at Polegate.

It had blue lights on the dashboard and undertook another car on the dual carriageway.

Miss Norfolk added: "Officers followed the car on the A27, where the speed limit is 70mph, at speeds of 100mph to 110mph.

"He had to slow because of other traffic when he reached the junction with the A22.

"He undertook another car on the dual carriageway which could have resulted in a collision.

"Officers stopped the car and found the driver was wearing a full paramedic uniform with a Surrey Ambulance Service badge on the chest.

"There were blue flashing lights facing outwards on the dashboard."

Miss Norfolk said Hammond denied driving dangerously and at later interviews put his speed at between 60mph and 80mph.

Rhodri James, defending, said Hammond worked as an ambulance technician at Banstead, Surrey.

He had agreed to swap a shift but was called into work at short notice when a colleague went sick. But his car would not start and he had to wait until the RAC came to start it.

Mr James added: "He has worked as a St John Ambulance Brigade volunteer since he was 14.

"Blue lights they use to mark out the scenes of emergencies were in his car to charge the batteries.

"He had the lights in his car and in a moment of madness he turned them on."

Mr James said Hammond had spent 3,000 hours training other St John Ambulance volunteers and had no previous convictions or cautions.

Judge Charles Kemp, sitting with two magistrates, dismissed the appeal.

He told Hammond: "The use of blue flashing lights and undertaking at those sort of speeds was thoroughly dangerous.

"It was also thoroughly antisocial because motorists will react when they see blue lights and will get out of the way of vehicles genuinely responding to emergencies.

"We have heard a good deal about Mr Hammond and he deserves credit for the voluntary work he does. But we take the view that because of the speeds the length of the ban was merited."