A MOTORIST jailed for causing an accident in which he narrowly missed colliding with police officers, failed in a bid to cut short the resulting driving ban.

Henry Walton received an 18-month prison sentence and was banned from the road for three years, at Durham Crown Court, in February 2014.

It followed his third driving conviction within six months, for an incident in which police were forced to jump for their lives as Walton, who was banned from driving only 19 days earlier, crashed an Audi A3 after veering across the road and hitting a concrete barrier on the A68, at Newton Cap viaduct, near Bishop Auckland.

The court heard the officers were trying to talk a suicidal man from jumping from the viaduct, when they were forced to take hasty avoiding action as the Audi A3 careered towards them.

All five people in the car, including Walton, were helped from the extensively damaged car and taken to hospital for treatment.

Walton, who had been with friends at a young farmers’ function, was said to have talked the designated driver into moving over, so he could take to the wheel.

The 28-year-old, of The Green, Cockfield, in Teesdale, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and without insurance, plus failing to provide a breath specimen.

Having served the custodial part of the sentence, and two of the three years of his driving ban, Walton was back before court, applying to have his licence restored.

The court heard offenders can apply for the return of their licence after serving two-thirds of the disqualification, but in this case it was opposed by the Crown.

Walton, who presented letters to the court backing his case, said following the recent death of his father he is required to play a greater role on the family farm, which would be assisted if he was able to drive.

He told the court: “I make no excuse for what I did.

“There’s no excuse for it, but I went to prison for it, and I’m still paying the price, now.”

But Judge Christopher Prince refused to reinstate the licence early.

“Regarding your previous bad character, you have a record for failing to provide specimens of breath for police.

“Relating to the circumstances, it was merely good fortune no-one was seriously hurt, or killed.

“I’m afraid these circumstances have been brought upon the defendant by himself, it was his own fault.”

Judge Prince said it was, “a just, appropriate punishment”.

“The public would be horrified if people could escape a driving ban like this.”

But, given his means, Judge Prince decided not to order the defendant to pay the £150 costs of the hearing.