A DISQUALIFIED driver who led police on a high speed pursuit for several miles through a North-East town has been jailed for 14 months for dangerous driving.

Hugh Raymond Frederick Holmes, 24, showed no regard for anyone’s safety as he sped through the streets of Spennymoor in a Vauxhall Astra, during the early hours of November 11, Durham Crown Court was told.

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Prince said: “Nobody was hurt and nothing was damaged and your were arrested.

“But the point is not such harm as did occur, but what harm may have occurred.

“Notwithstanding that it was light traffic at the time of the morning, had any other vehicle been coming in the opposite direction, with you drove at speed without proper control, people would have been killed or seriously hurt.”

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said police officers received reports of Holmes driving while disqualified and spotted his car in Green Lane, Spennymoor.

When they turned on their blue lights to indicate that he should pull over he sped off travelling up Eve Lane at 60mph, in a 30mph zone.

In the ensuing pursuit, Holmes ignored traffic signs, crossed onto the wrong side of the road at speed and mounted a grass verge after hitting a kerb. After travelling through the industrial estate and leading officers back down the town’s Durham Road, he stopped and was arrested.

The court was told Holmes’ previous convictions included failing to provide a breath specimen driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified.

Andrew Patterson, mitigating, said while Holmes had an unenviable record he did not have previous convictions for dangerous driving.

Holmes of Tudhoe Moor, Spennymoor, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, was banned for driving for two years.