Michael Cook sobbed in the dock and vowed never to drive again as he narrowly avoided jail at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, instead receiving a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The court heard that on July 7, 2011 the 74-year-old led traffic cops on a pursuit which reached speeds of up to 80mph along residential streets, after they tried to flag him down for not having cover.

The drama began at 8.40pm in Henley Road when two officers in a patrol car spotted Cook driving his silver Ford Escort without any lights on.

After they turned on their siren, he accelerated, darting down Anglefield Road and Donkin Hill, speeding up to around 50mph.

After turning onto Lower Henley Road, Cook flew through a set of red lights at the junction with Henley Road. After once more running red lights at the same junction – this time careering onto the wrong side of the road – he led the police along Henley Road reaching speeds of 80mph before roaring into Caversham Park Road and Peppard Road at 60mph.

He tore along the country lane before taking a sharp bend too quickly and crashing into some brambles.

The court heard the pensioner may suffer from memory lapses which could also explain a 2006 conviction for shoplifting – his first breach of the law at 66-years-old.

He admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and Judge Angela Morris said: “Your driving on that day was a disgrace. You could have killed somebody, you could have killed yourself. If you’d killed somebody I doubt very much you’d have been able to live with yourself.”

Imposing an 18-month driving ban and 12-month supervision order, she added: “This is a man who has at least some form of intermittent memory problem. I’m concerned to ensure that this doesn’t mean that he ends up driving a car again in any circumstances. Next time there’s a risk he could end up killing himself or someone else.”

After he was arrested, Cook, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Whistley Green, apologised to officers.

Defending, Sam Trefgarne said: “He just panicked. He can’t explain why he drove away like this and agrees that it was the most stupid thing to do.

“There would have been no risk to life or limb if he’d stopped. He stands here full of remorse.”