A DRINK-DRIVER, who tried to reverse ram pursuing police vehicles four times during a five-minute chase, has been jailed for a year and eight months.

Peter John Alderson was at the wheel of a Skoda Octavia which tried to dodge two pursuing patrol cars during a 5.3-mile chase in the early hours of Saturday June 13.

Durham Crown Court heard he drove off at speed, ignored police blue lights and sirens and a red light and drove dangerously through a single lane tunnel.

He also deliberately stopped and reverse at speed into the police vehicles, badly damaging one.

Both officers in the car were injured and one requires up to nine months physiotherapy as a result of whiplash.

The court heard a second car picked up up the pursuit, through parts of Bishop Auckland and Shildon, before it ended near a garage in Newton Aycliffe.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said both Alderson, and his passenger - recognised by police as his brother Gary - abandoned the car.

Alderson was caught as he tried to climb over a fence but struggled with the officer and had to be restrained.

Mr Abrahams said Alderson, whose speech was slurred, refused to provide a breath sample and fell over as he was led to a cell.

Alderson denied being the driver, claiming he was a passenger, with a “third party” at the wheel.

The 38-year-old, of Close House, Bishop Auckland, had denied dangerous driving but Alderson later admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and failing to provide a breath specimen.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said Alderson has been out of trouble since 2007, with his last driving offence in 2005.

He added the defendant accepted he was driving and apologised to the injured officers as well as for his behaviour when arrested.

Judge Simon Hickey said Alderson deserved little credit for his late plea, as the evidence against him was “overwhelming”.

Jailing him, he added: “Anyone in County Durham who fails to stop for police, especially when there are blue lights flashing and sirens sounding, crosses the line and suffers the consequences.”

He also imposed a three year and ten month driving ban, and Alderson will only legally be permitted to drive once he passes an extended test after the period of disqualification.