A Winchester man who led police on a high-speed chase while throwing drugs out of the car window, is starting a two-year jail sentence.

Michael Berner (45), of Erskine Road, West Hill, was pursued by police off the M3 through Eastleigh and Colden Common before his capture at Allbrook, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Adam Feest, prosecuting, said police started to chase him when they saw him driving erratically and, within minutes, he was speeding through the town at up to 80mph in a 30mph zone.

The officers saw him throwing drugs out of the window shortly before his car crashed into an embankment at Allbrook Hill.

Berner pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, possessing cannabis, speed and cocaine.

He also admitted carrying a blade, failing to provide a specimen of breath and driving without insurance.

Berner, a father of six, denied carrying a firearm, a ball-bearing gun and the charge was dropped.

Nick Rowland, on his behalf, said of the incident: "There was a distinct lack of judgement on his part. He expresses remorse for what he did that night. He had recently split up from his partner and so got involved with drink and drugs."

Sentencing him, Judge Michael Brodrick said: "You have a bad record in terms of driving and drugs, aggravated by the fact you were disqualified at the time. There are strong reasons to suspect you were under the influence of drink or drugs."

Berner, who was sent to prison for a total of two years with a five-year driving ban, was the subject of a nationwide hunt last November when a mix-up by the Crown Prosecution Service at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court set him free.

He was eventually arrested in Southampton in January.