PHUKET: A man was arrested early today after a short chase at high speed around one of Phuket's most famous Phuket City blocks.

The man, driving a silver grey sedan, decided to ignore a request from a policeman at a checkpoint near Makro in Vichitsongram Road as he headed from Patong towards Phuket City.

Opting to skip the officer's wave to the side of the road, and with his girlfriend beside him in the car, the man sped off and turned sharp left at Bangyai Road, behind the rear of the Big C supermarket and Central Festival.

As he did so, officers began a pursuit in a police car.

Within moments of swinging into the bypass road and attempting a u-turn, he had run off the road surface into tall grass, where the car came to a halt.

Police arrested and handcuffed him. The man, named as Thawatchai Jansrikong, told police that he was afraid he might be asked to take a urine test.

No drugs were found in his possession or in the vehicle.

Lieutenant Tapapon Pangpimlo and officers at Phuket City Police Station were deciding today what charges he should face.