A man from Chester has admitted driving dangerously in a high performance Ariel Atom sports car.

Frederick Randles, 49, of Heath Bank, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving on the B5130 and the B4501 near Lake Brenig, on the border between Conwy and Denbighshire, between July 11 and September 22, 2013, at a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Thursday (June 25).

The 49-year-old was disqualified from driving with immediate effect.

It is believed that the police were alerted to his antics by a member of the public who reported YouTube videos in which an Ariel Atom was being driven dangerously.

The BBC TV series Top Gear described the road-legal Ariel Atom, which has no roof or windows, as ‘shockingly fast and skin-searingly exposed’.

Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once said of the Atom: “I have never, ever driven anything that accelerates so fast.”

Randles denied a further three counts of dangerous driving on the B5130 and A525, which were ordered to lie on file. But he admitted a count of careless driving on the A525.

Warned by Judge Roger Dutton that the offences were ‘very serious’ and that ‘all options of sentencing remain open’, Randles will be sentenced on July 16.

He will remain on unconditional bail until then.