A DRUNK father-of-eight who led police on an 80mph chase through city streets after a New Year's Eve drinking session has narrowly escaped prison on Friday.

Traveller Bernard McDonagh, 40, of Naas Lane, Quedgeley, ignored flashing blue lights and police sirens as he sped off from the Bristol Road and Cole Avenue junction.

He drove on the wrong side of the road, the wrong way down a bus lane and just missed hitting a passing pedestrian.

McDonagh had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to provide a breath specimen on January 1 this year.

Prosecutor James Bennett told Gloucester Crown Court it was 1.05am on New Year's morning that police in an unmarked patrol car saw McDonagh in a blue Volvo at the junction.

The car took a short cut on a bus lane which cuts off the junction and then drove along the wrong side of the road before correcting its course.

The police officers turned round and went after the Volvo with blue lights on and sirens sounding.

The Volvo was travelling at speed and the officers had to reach 80mph in a 30mph limit to catch up.

"Approaching a roundabout at Fieldcourt Gardens the Volvo appeared to brake very harshly and excessively and it skidded," said Mr Bennett.

"The rear of the Volvo was snaking from side to side. The driver quite obviously was losing control.

"It was only a matter of luck and chance that a pedestrian was not struck by the Volvo and if that had happened the consequences could have been catastrophic.

"The Volvo then accelerated away again at high speed. It crossed a bridge at Quedgeley and came to a stop further down the road at Haresfield Lane."

The court heard that when police approached the defendant he appeared unsteady on his feet and confused.

At the police station he refused to give a sample of breath.

Defending lawyer Steve Young said: "He had drunk around six pints and it had been his intention to get a taxi home for him, his wife and two friends.

"He tried four firms but when they realised it was to a traveller's site they all refused, so he took the stupid decision to drive the short distance from the city centre to their home.

"It was his wife in fact who told him to stop eventually. He panicked when he saw the police and realises how stupid he has been."

The Recorder of Gloucester, Judge Jamie Tabor QC, gave McDonagh a nine months prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for two years.