A BANNED motorist took a vehicle he was supposed to be repairing so he could buy his partner some flowers for her birthday.

But when police began following the blue MG vehicle, William John Shanley pulled up, did a quick u- turn, and mounted a grass verge opposite.

Durham Crown Court heard that his getaway bid was short-lived, however, as he tried to take a roundabout in the wrong direction.

Kieran Rainey, prosecuting, said the MG hit the kerb, mounted the traffic island, ploughed through some trees and “street furniture” before coming to a halt on a grassed area.

Although he then tried to make off on foot, Shanley was arrested and immediately owned up, telling the officers: “I’m banned. I’m being stupid.”

Mr Rainey said when a cigarette box was produced containing a small amount of white powder, he told them it was amphetamines.

When interviewed, Shanley admitted being at the wheel of the MG during the short pursuit, on the A688 South Church Road and Watling Road, in Bishop Auckland, at 10.55pm on October 16.

Mr Rainey said the vehicle’s owner was questioned, and told police he had given it to Shanley to carry out repairs.

But he confirmed he had not given permission for it to be driven.

Mr Rainey said the car was damaged in the brief bid to escape the police pursuers.

Thirty-three-year-old Shanley, of The Market Place, Barnard Castle, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, plus possession of a class B drug.

The court heard he has motoring offences dating back to 1998 on his record and received a short prison sentence for aggravated vehicle taking earlier this year, when he was banned from driving for 18 months.

When asked if he had anything to say, the defendant, who was unrepresented at the hearing, said, simply: “No, it was stupid.”

Jailing him for ten months, Judge Robert Adams told Shanley: “You have a dreadful record, with 51 previous offences dating back to 1998, and you were first banned from driving in 1999.

“I have read the pre-sentence report in which you said it was your partner’s birthday and, so, you decided to buy some flowers, even though you knew you should not be driving.

“You appear to have a total inability to abide by court orders.”

He banned Shanley from driving for a further two years.