A DISQUALIFIED driver who outran police during a 1am pursuit was later arrested - and claimed: "It couldn't have been me. I'd been kidnapped."

Kevin Anderson tried to cover his face so the patrol car officer could not see him as he raced through central Middlesbrough, a court heard.

When he was detained days later, he said he had been snatched and beaten up by four men - and his tag would show he had not been at home.

Anderson, 43, was on the night-time curfew last August because of another escapade of high-speed dangerous driving three months earlier.

Late at night on May 4, he tried to race away from police at up to 90mph in 30mph zones, and at one point attempted to ram their vehicle.

Teesside Crown Court was told that he suddenly braked in the Jaguar, put it in reverse and forced the patrol car to swerve out of the way.

Later in the chase, after turning off the headlights, he did a handbrake turn so he was facing the police, said prosecutor Sarah Mallett.

Anderson then switched onto full-beam and drove straight at his pursuer, who had to reverse out of the way to avoid being hit.

When he was later arrested at his home in Netherby Farm, Middlesbrough, there was a struggle and he had to be Tasered, said Miss Mallett.

Anderson was jailed for a year yesterday (Wednesday, March 18) after he pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving, as well as having no insurance.

His barrister, Richard Herrmann, had urged Judge Tony Briggs to impose a suspended prison sentence for what he described as "a blip".

He said Anderson had been out of trouble for most of his adult life until a breakdown last year made him turn to alcohol to cope.

Judge Briggs branded the driving "ludicrously dangerous" and said he was lucky not to be facing charges of causing death or serious injury.

"Whatever the time of day, danger would ensue to those who had the misfortune to be using the roads at the same time," the judge said.

"The message must go to the public that if people drive dangerously in an effort to get away from the police and in total disregard for other road-users, custody is inevitable."

Anderson, who also admitted driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen of urine, was also banned from the roads for two years.