A 26-year-old man who drove at over 100mph during a car chase with police while under the influence of drink and drugs has had his sentence deferred for six months.

Dylan Phair, of Castlebalfour Park, Lisnaskea, appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court to be sentenced for a range of offences including three charges of criminal damage, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, failing to stop, remain and report a damage only accident, using a vehicle in a dangerous condition, obstructing police, using a motor vehicle without insurance and the fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark.

All charges relate to events on February 22, 2020.

On the day in question, police were called to Rooney's Spar on the Cornagrade Road after receiving a report of two males who were believed to be intoxicated and driving a Vauxhall Vectra with a Republic of Ireland registration plate.

On arrival, police located the car at a car park to the rear of the shop with two males present. Phair was sitting in the driver's seat and there was strong smell of alcohol.

When asked to take a roadside breath test, Phair started the car and reversed into the police car. He also hit another car in the car park before driving off and heading towards Enniskillen.

The car then collided with a BT communications box on the Cornagrade Road, close to the Ambulance station which caused £4,000 worth of damage.

The defendant did not stop the car but continued on to the Belfast Road and was pursued by police as he reached speeds of over 100mph and carried out dangerous undertaking of cars using the hard shoulder.

During the 12 minute pursuit, Phair attempted to ram police to aid his escape and used evasive manoeuvres as he headed towards Donagh.

The car engine eventually seized due to oil loss from an earlier collision and Phair got out of the car to try and avoid capture but he was arrested in a field 200 yards away.

He admitted to taking cannabis and alcohol but did not engage further with police.

Ciaran Roddy, Phair's barrister told the judge it is "as bad a case as Your Worship is likely to see".

He said clearly the custody threshold has been met and that it was a shockingly bad case and the defendant was fortunate no-one was killed.

District Judge Steven Keown said he was minded to defer sentencing due to the probation report and Mr. Roddy pointed out that it was difficult to understand and relate the individual involved to the same individual in the probation report.

Judge Keown deferred sentencing for six months until August 9 and told Phair that if he had a glowing updated probation report on that date and there was no further offending, he might get a suspended sentence and that the only reason he was not being sent immediately to jail was because of the probation report.

He added that there was enough in to to give Phair an opportunity to "prove yourself".

Another case against Phair for possession of cannabis was also deferred for sentencing until August.

The 26 year old was found with a grinder in a car in Newtownbutler on July 9, 2020 and he made a full admission saying he had bought it a few days previously and it was for his own personal use.