A MAN who fled police and sparked a high-speed car chase through Blackbird Leys has been spared jail.

Sandro Ramos, of College Close, Enfield, in London, had already admitted one count of dangerous driving, one of failing to stop when requested and another of driving without insurance.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing on Thursday how the 20-year old had been driving a silver Vauxhall Astra on the night of Tuesday, May 29.

The court heard that there had been an earlier shunt involving an ambulance in the area and when police saw Ramos’s car at Pegasus Road they tried to stop him in connection but he sped off.

Prosecutors said that Ramos raced at 50mph down 20mph Balfour Road before heading down Cuddesdon Way – a 20mph zone – at 40mph.

Despite officers' efforts to catch up, they lost sight of Ramos and his passenger but he was later found by police and subsequently arrested.

In mitigation his defence team said that he had made a ‘stupid decision’ and that he had simply ‘panicked’.

The court heard that he also had aspirations to train as a chef and take cookery classes in London if he was spared jail.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: “Driving in that manner can result in people getting killed.

“There is a police chase and you failed to stop for a police officer.

"There was a clear danger to the public at the time.”

However the judge also said he had been ‘impressed’ with how Ramos had obeyed a previous suspended sentence and decided to pass a community order.

Ramos was given a two-year community order, during which he has to take part in a 20-day rehabilitation course and do 160 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months must take an extended retest, and has to pay a victim surcharge.