A DRIVER who put his middle finger up to police and led them on a high-speed chase has been banned from the road.

Darren Hensby drove dangerously through red lights and the wrong way around a roundabout, speeding in Brighton.

He led police in his Rover late at night in March this year.

The 38-year-old sped off from police through a red light, and put his arm out of the window to gesture to officers.

At Hove Crown Court, the father-of-five was given a suspended prison sentence and put under a curfew.

Sophie Evans, prosecuting, said the incident took place at 12.50am on March 21.

PC Mark Holden suspected Hensby of speeding, and pulled up behind him at traffic lights.

Then Hensby sped off through a red light, the court heard.

Ms Evans said: “He accelerated at up to 80mph in a 30mph zone, at Falmer Road he stuck his arm out of the window and put his middle finger up at officers.”

She said officers saw him make the gesture more than once during the pursuit.

He drove through Warren Road and Coombe Road, before he was eventually stopped by the police and boxed in.

She said Hensby, of Poynings Drive, Hove, gave a positive breath test for drink driving at the roadside.

But a later blood test in custody showed he was below the legal drink-drive limit.

Ms Evans said he has five previous convictions for 20 offences, but the convictions date back to 2004.

Hensby admitted dangerous driving at Brighton Magistrates’ Court last month, where it was revealed he had been “showing off” during the prolonged high-speed chase.

Holly Collinge, defending, said Hensby now has no intention to drive.

She said a pre sentence report revealed some of Mr Hensby’s mental health difficulties.

Judge Paul Tain banned Hensby from driving for 18 months, and said he will have to complete an extended retest before he can drive again.

The judge imposed a one-year suspended prison sentence and ordered Hensby to complete 20 rehabilitation sessions.

Hensby was put under curfew for three months between 9pm and 5am every day.

The judge said he had taken Hensby’s early guilty plea and “unusual personal circumstances and difficulties” into account.