A drink-driver who smashed a high-powered car into a wall can expect a year in prison, a judge has said.

Tej Singh Ramessur crashed the Audi TT sports car after police followed him as he drove up to 70mph, drifting between traffic and jumping red lights in High Road, Ilford, at 3.50am on December 27.

He was twice over the legal alcohol limit.

Ramessur pleaded guilty to drink-driving and dangerous driving when he appeared at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Committing the case to Snaresbrook Crown Court, district judge Gary Lucie said: “He could have killed somebody, couldn’t he?

The judge added: “I am afraid this is going to the crown court. He is looking at 12 months, but I am not the person to be making the decision.”

The court was shown a photograph of the Audi embedded in the wall of a church near the junction of Green Lane and High Road.

Before the accident the car had aroused the suspicion of officers in a police car equipped with video recording equipment.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Ajayi said: “He was going into the Ilford one-way system when the police tried to stop him.

“He went through a red traffic light and at this point the driver lost control and it ended up half embedded in the wall and half in the road.

“The force caused severe damage to the car itself and a wheel came off on impact.”

Ramessur’s solicitor said: “He feels awful about being here. He has entered an early guilty plea and made a full and frank admission.”

Ramessur, 41, of Enfield, will appear at crown court on February 3.