A drug-driver who led police on a high speed chase along the A55 has avoided jail.

Daniel Kingsley, of Plough Lane in Deeside, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Thursday.

The 29-year-old had previously admitted to offences including drug driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving other than in accordance with a license.

Frances Willmott, prosecuting, told the court that on February 3 this year police saw an Audi A3 on the A55 being driven by Kingsley.

They stopped it on suspicion that he was under the influence of drugs and indicated for him to pull off at the Flint/Northop junction.

He initially did this, but then without warning made off by driving back onto the A55, narrowly avoiding a collision.

Officers followed and started trying to make ground to catch up to Kingsley, who had driven away at speeds of over 100 miles an hour.

The saw his car held up in traffic and he was trying to force another vehicle out of the way.

He then stopped and was arrested, telling officers that he smoked cannabis daily and was found to be more than three times over the limit for the substance.

The court heard how he admitted to officers that he'd smoked cannabis shortly before driving, that he'd recently bought the car and that he panicked when he saw the police.

Andrew Green, defending, said: "I recognise, as does Mr Kingsley, that this is a serious offence.

"It is aggravated by the high speed and deviations that took place.

"It is inevitable that would have caused significant risks to other road users.

"After a relatively short distance he did see sense and pulled over."

Judge Timothy Petts told him: "You nearly caused a collision, driving at over 100 miles per hour at points, and you were trying to force your way past other vehicles.

"To make matters worse you tested over the limit for cannabis.

"As you only has a provisional license you shouldn't have been out driving by yourself - and you had no insurance.

"The A55 is a busy road at the best of times. You risked a serious accident."

Judge Petts handed Kingsley a 12 month custodial sentence, but suspended it for 18 months.

he ordered him to undertake 20 sessions on a rehabilitation activity requirement as well as a building better relationships activity.

Kingsley must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and has been disqualified from driving for three years.