A driver who led police on a three-mile car chase told a court that he hadn't realised he was being followed - because he wasn't wearing his glasses.
Desmond Lawrence, 42, framed the rather flimsy excuse during a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court, in relation to the 18 March spectacle.
Judge Martin Picton saw through Lawrence's claims, saying: "You must have known [the police] were there with two cars and flashing lights, glasses or no glasses," according to This is Gloucester.
The Quedgeley man - whose lack of glasses also seemed to impair his ability to hear wailing sirens - admitted driving without insurance and dangerous driving, though he denied aggravated vehicle taking, after he led police in a 2am chase while driving his ex-partner's Vauxhall in Gloucester.
Officers had decided to stop the car when a focus on Motor Insurance Database records showed it was only insured for a female driver.
After firing up their blue lights in an attempt to bring it to a halt, another police vehicle later joined in the chase, sounding its siren.
But Lawrence didn't stop for some three miles, eventually pulling up outside his home.
In addition to claiming he was not aware of the presence of the police vehicles, Lawrence maintained he had not jumped several sets of traffic lights - claiming instead they had been on amber.
Judge Picton told the defendant: "You can't try to outrun the police.
"If you lead a law-abiding life for the next six months and stay out of trouble I will find a way of dealing with you that does not mean locking you up immediately."
