A SPEEDING driver led police on a chase and crashed with his 13-year-old daughter in the front as he returned from hospital to visit his new-born twins.

Peter Buckton – already banned from the roads and in court just two months earlier for similar crimes – told officers: "I'm sorry, I'm a tit. I apologise."

The 37-year-old had set up his own vehicle repair business seven months ago, and it is now in ruins, his lawyer John Nixon told Teesside Crown Court.

A judge told the Middlesbrough motor menace his choice of enterprise was "ludicrous"' and added: "You remain someone who should not be on the roads."

Recorder Toby Hedworth jailed Buckton for two years four months, and imposed a five-year driving ban which will begin when he is released from prison.

On November 4, Buckton crashed a Vauxhall Corsa into an elderly couple's car, leaving them both with fractures, with his teenage daughter as passenger.

The smash on Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, happened after the hatchback went through a red light as he tried to outrun police at 70mph in a 40mph zone.

Buckton was on bail at the time, after being caught behind the wheel of a Ford Transit flat-back van in similar circumstances on September 11 while banned.

Mr Nixon said the van belonged to a customer and father-of-five Buckton was giving it a test-drive, but when police tried to pull it over he fled in a panic.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court that he made "blind turns" at junctions, went on the wrong side of the road and fled when he went into a dead-end.

Mr Nixon said: “He made some very bad decisions. He expresses remorse. He makes apologies. He recognises he has caused harm to people. He has left his partner isolated with young children to bring up on her own.

“The business that he started seven months ago is now in ruins.

“He started a small business, vehicle repair. It may have been unwise to have done that given the state of his record for driving. But that’s the skill he has."

Mr Recorder Hedworth told Buckton: “You’ve always got an explanation, but I’m afraid the explanations don't wash. You have a total disregard for traffic law, and you choose when you are going to drive, and you come along with a lame excuse afterwards.

"I am mindful of the fact you have a young family who will be deprived of your attention for some time. That's, sadly, no-one's fault but your own.

“When you are prepared to place even your own 13-year-old daughter in danger then it is a bit of a week claim that you are concerned to be able to look after your family."

Buckton, of Boxer Court, South Bank, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

His 24 previous crimes included numerous driving offences. He was under a suspended sentence from November last year for taking part in gang thefts of five 4x4s in a month.