A FARMWORKER who was followed by police on blue lights for 40km said he didn’t realise the officers were trying to pull him over.

Artur Rybicki, 48, was driving a 65-plate Audi A1 and on his way for a day out in the Brecon Beacons when police officers tried to pull him over on the M4 at around 5am on April 15 last year.

Wiltshire Police prosecutor Mike Smith told Swindon Magistrates’ Court the officers had illuminated their patrol car’s blue lights.

When that didn’t achieve the desired effect of getting Rybicki to pull over they flashed their headlights and sounded the siren.

Mr Smith said the officers even pulled alongside the Audi in an attempted to get the car to stop.

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Artur Rybicki outside Swindon Magistrates' Court Picture: ADVER

They called for backup and, eventually, boxed the A1 in with the help of officers from Avon and Somerset Police.

The pursuit went on for 20 minutes, with Rybicki followed for 40km down the M4 at speeds ranging from 55mph to 70mph.

When he was arrested, he told officers he didn’t know why they wanted to stop him.

Rybicki, of Brown Candover, Hampshire, pleaded guilty by post to careless driving and failing to stop.

Speaking in his own defence at a hearing on Monday afternoon, Rybicki told Swindon magistrates: “I was just totally confused. I didn’t know what was going on, why they flashed their lights and followed me.”

He said police in Poland, where he lived before coming to the UK, would go in front of a car they wanted to pull over and illuminate a “follow me” sign or flash a “lollipop stick” through the police car window.

Rybicki had seen the officers pull alongside his Audi but, because of the glare from the blue lights, could not see they were signalling for him to stop.

“I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t understand,” he said.

The court was told Rybicki was a farm worker and needed his licence so he could drive tractors. He lived on the farm where he worked and used his car to drive to the supermarket, around 10 miles away. He also needed to drive to get away from the farm – which he compared to a concentration camp – on his day off. He said this was “essential for my wellbeing and mental health”.

He said he’d been on his way to the Brecon Beacons on the morning he was stopped, not withstanding he was caught around three weeks into the first lockdown.

Imposing four penalty points and fining him £333, chairman of the bench Joanna Cadzow said: “We understand that you were not quite clear what the police were asking of you with all their lights.”

Rybicki must pay £144 in costs and surcharge.