A drink driver was chased down by the police just hours after buying his new car.

Cristi Racovita, 20, who planned to live in the vehicle, said he’d panicked when he saw the blue lights behind him – as he’s treated himself to a few pre-mixed cans of G&T from Marks and Spencer earlier that night.

He led police on a high-speed pursuit through east Oxford, hitting 60mph in the 40 zone on Grenoble Road.

Prosecutor Nathalie Carter told Oxford Crown Court yesterday that police officers’ attention was initially drawn to the Y-plate Volvo V40 on April 6, 2021, as it was 3am and only the car’s sidelights were illuminated.

When they ran the Volvo’s plates they discovered the car was uninsured.

“The police followed the vehicle at some distance and they noticed the vehicle was struggling to stay in a straight line on Garsington Road and it was crossing over the centre white lines on more than one occasion,” Ms Carter said.

“The police illuminated the blue lights in the police car and with that the vehicle driven by Mr Racovita drove off at speed.”

The chase hit 60mph around Blackbird Leys, the court heard. Racovita crossed onto the wrong side of the road and at one point clipped a roundabout.

Racovita outside Oxford Crown Court

He took the Volvo onto Cuddesdon Way then turned into a cul-de-sac. He ran from the vehicle but found his pathway blocked by thick brambles.

Ms Carter said: “The officer shouted at Mr Racovita to exit the brambles and lie down. The officer didn’t have a Taser on him but that is the impression he gave to Mr Racovita.

“The tactic worked and Mr Racovita left the bushes and lay down on the floor. He was then compliant through the rest of his contact with the police.”

He failed a roadside breath test and was later found to have 42mgs of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

In his interview, he told police he had bought the car earlier that day and drank a couple of gin and tonic mixers he’d bought from Marks and Spencer. “It appears that he panicked when the police were behind him as he was aware he had been drinking,” the prosecutor said. He was said to be fearful about how suspects were treated by police in his native Romania.

Judge Ian Pringle QC sentenced him to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for two years. He was fined £300 and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

The judge said: “Were it not for the fact the roads were so empty you posed a real danger to the public.”

He added: “Mr Racovita, make sure this is your one and only time in the British law courts.”

Mitigating, Emma Hornby said her client had come to the UK in 2020 believing there was a job open to him with a friend. When that job fell through, he was left homeless. He’d bought the car intending to sleep in it.

“Mr Racovita understands that his behaviour was unacceptable and realises that he was fortunate that no accident or injury occurred. He is remorseful for his actions,” she added.

Her client was now working and lived with a new partner.

Racovita, of Samphire Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving with no licence or insurance. He had no previous convictions.

He was banned from driving for 15 months and must pass an extended retest before he can get behind the wheel of a car.

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