A LOW level drug dealer panicked when police began tailing his car because he had neither a driving licence or insurance.

Graham Alan Taylor sped off when the patrol car switched on its blue lights and siren in Shotton Colliery, near Peterlee.

Durham Crown Court heard the officers responded after their automatic number plate recognition system flagged the Seat Leon as uninsured.

John Harley, prosecuting, said Taylor accelerated up to 50 mph in 30 mph-limit residential streets in the former colliery community in mid-afternoon on December 17.

Mr Harley said the Leon was reached almost 60-mph at one stage, as Taylor ignored give way signs and under-cut other vehicles.

“He showed no element of caution in the manner of his driving, on streets busy with pedestrians and other traffic, lined with parked vehicles.”

Having mounted a kerb, near some pedestrians, to cut a corner, Taylor eventually crossed a grassed area, before the Leon smashed into bollards.

Mr Harley said Taylor ran off towards a nearby house, where he was arrested.

During a police search, 20.5g of cannabis bush was found.

In interview Taylor admitted having no insurance or a licence but said he believed he did not exceeded 40 mph or cut corners during the pursuit.

He said he bought £100 worth of cannabis, intending to sell it in 26 £10 bags, to give him a £160 profit.

The 27-year-old, of Bridge Road, Shotton Colliery, admitted dangerous driving, possessing a class B drug with intent to supply, and driving without insurance or a licence.

The court heard his five previous convictions include driving while disqualified, while he also has a caution for possessing cannabis.

Neil Bennett, mitigating, told the court the incident happened when Taylor was, “emotionally fragile and vulnerable” after separating from his long-term partner.

He described the defendant’s involvement in street level drug sales as “an ill-judged way of improving his financial situation”.

But pleas for a suspended sentence fell on deaf ears.

Imposing an 18-month prison sentence, Judge Simon Hickey said both the driving and drug offences merited custody in their own right.

He told the defendant it was fortunate no-one was, “killed or maimed” due to the manner of his driving.

Taylor was also banned from driving for 23 months.