'How funny was that?' - Limo drink-driver who led police on 20 minute chase is jailed

But a crown court judge told him that the “fun stops here” and jailed him for 14 months.

For part of the journey Jonathan James Mitchell had three passengers who had been out celebrating a birthday.

The 27-year-old drove the limousine through Newtown centre in Mid Wales on a Saturday evening, at times on the wrong side of the road and almost colliding with other vehicles.

He was almost twice the drink drive limit, with a reading of 66 microgrammes, and had no insurance.

He drove through the village of Kerry before bringing the large vehicle to a standstill and saying to the police officer: “How funny was that? I’ll take this one.”

Mold Crown Court heard how police followed the white stretch limo as it wove along the road and was inches away from hitting an on-coming articulated truck.

He dropped his passengers off and then drove through the centre of Newtown – and he even tried to do a hand-brake turn, causing the limo to skid, in his bid to get away.

Dash cam footage from a pursing police car was played to the court.

Judge Niclas Parry told him: “You thought it was funny. The fun stops here, I am afraid.”

Judge Parry said that it was a shocking piece of driving that involved “near death experiences for you and for your passengers” on more than one occasion.

Mitchell, of Orchid Way, Maesyrhandir in Newtown, was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for 25 months after he admitted dangerous driving, drink driving, no licence and no insurance. He must take an extended driving test.

The limo was registered as off-road, and had no MoT or insurance. But it was driven at 50mph in a 30mph area and when police tried to overtake at one stage he moved out and struck one of the police cars.

Defending barrister Hannah Gordon said that he accepted the seriousness of what he had done and was expecting custody.