A BANNED driver’s “silly decision making” has landed him behind bars – following a three-mile police chase.

Despite the disqualification, Kenneth Chisholm got behind the wheel of his Kia Carens to make a short trip, shortly before 11am on March 15.

Durham Crown Court was told he was spotted approaching a school on Wigdan Walls Road, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland.

When a police vehicle began following, he increased speed, turning onto Etherley Lane, and California, heading to Woodside and Witton Park, reaching almost 60 mph on 30-limit roads.

Penny Bottomley, prosecuting, said at one point he carried a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a narrow road, which saw his car mount the opposite pavement.

The chase ended in a back lane, near The Green, as he tried to run off after abandoning the car.

Miss Bottomley said Chisholm was detained after a police officer deployed a taser stun gun.

The 30-year-old, of Simpson Road, West Auckland, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He has seven convictions for 30 offences, including three previous matters of driving while disqualified, the court heard.

Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said: “He has greatly reduced his offending, but took a silly decision on that day to drive, despite being near the end of that disqualification at the time.”

Jailing him for eight months, Judge Simon Hickey told Chisholm: “You were driving at up to 60mph and anyone could have easily stepped out into the path of your car on those terraced streets.”

He was also banned from driving for 18 months.