A “SUICIDAL” drink-driver “ready to end his life” injured three officers during a high-speed car chase, a court heard.

Martin Ralfs, of Whitworth Crescent, Southampton pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Southampton Crown Court yesterday after writing-off two police cars worth thousands as he sped away from officers at more than 100mph in the early hours of April 2.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order against his former partner.

The 58-year-old, pictured below, was under the influence of alcohol when he drove his Honda Accord down the M27 at approximately 90mph past a marked police car close to junction 5 on the westbound carriageway.

Prosecuting, James Kellam said Ralfs was then seen to be “weaving across lanes” as police attempted to catch up with him.

A Roads Policing Unit was then deployed to stop the cars as they approached the layby at Stoney Cross, on the A31 which indicated for Ralfs to pull over.

As this was done Ralfs moved into the second lane as if to overtake, so the officer straddled both lanes in a bid to stop him.

It was at this point, the court heard, that Ralfs rammed the police car, causing it to swerve, while Ralfs drove off at around 100mph.

The police car, which suffered minor damage, continued to follow the Honda, which went up to the roundabout at the junction with Woolsbridge Road in St Leonards and back down the eastbound carriageway, reaching speeds of up to 129mph.

Knowing that the car was heading back towards the M27, three vehicles from the Roads Policing Unit were ready to carry out a tactical containment in a bid to stop Ralfs safely.

Mr Kellam said Ralfs did not slow down but “quite deliberately” crashed into the back of two of the police cars - which were written off causing £70,000 damage in total.

He added that Ralfs had told officers that he “just wants to die”.

Three officers were injured and suffered whiplash injuries and bruising.

Defending Ralfs, Andrea Becker said her client had contemplated suicide and that he wanted to end his life as it was in a “terrible state”.

She said: “Mr Ralfs wishes to apologise for those that he hurt and the financial loss to the police.”

The court heard that Ralfs had been unable to accept his “significant” relationship with his former partner had come to an end.

He had breached a restraining order not permitting him to go into Midanbury Lane three times, including on the day of the car crash.

Ralfs was seen visibly shaking in the dock as His Honour Judge Peter Ralls QC sentenced him to two-years imprisonment, one-year for each offence.

Mr Ralls QC said: “This was an appalling bit of driving and it is a miracle that no one was killed as a result of your actions.”

Ralfs will serve at least 12-months of his sentence.

Afterwards, Sgt Mark Furse of Hampshire Constabulary said he hoped Ralfs sentence would “send a clear message to anyone who thinks that drink-driving or speeding is worth the risk”.

He said: “It was sheer luck that no one was seriously injured or killed as a result of Mr Ralfs’ reckless driving.

“Fortunately, our highly trained roads policing officers were able to deploy specialist tactics to stop his dangerous driving and take him off our roads before anyone was seriously hurt.”

Sgt Furse added: “Our officers were simply doing their job and trying to make our roads safer for everyone, yet this man decided that he was going to risk their lives and the lives of other road users by refusing to stop and speeding off.”