TWO police drivers abandoned the high-speed pursuit of a disqualified driver as they felt it was unsafe to continue, a court heard.

But air support took over the role tracking the movements of the Land Rover Freelander, driven by 19-year-old Kai Lewis Lucas.

Durham Crown Court was told the car was eventually abandoned and police on the ground were directed to Queen Elizabeth Drive, in Easington Lane, where Lucas and two passengers were arrested.

The court heard it was 35 minutes after the first police driver’s attention was drawn to the Freelander, due to the manner it was being driven, at Four Lane Ends in nearby Hetton-le-Hole, at 1am on May 14, last year.

Officers chose not to maintain the pursuit when it was driven at speed down a dusty farm track and through a farm field in darkness.

Lucas, now 20, of Market Crescent, New Herrington, near Houghton-le-Spring, only admitted dangerous driving on the day of his recent scheduled trial.

He previously admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance, claiming someone else took over at the wheel.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said while on bail for the driving incident, Lucas was a passenger in a Mazda car which left a filling station without paying for £71 worth of petrol, in Eston, Teesside.

Both Lucas and the driver later attacked a motorcyclist and tried to forcibly take his motorbike, on Marton Road, Middlesbrough.

He admitted attempted robbery, common assault and taking a vehicle without consent arising from that incident, on August 22.

Andrew Rutter, mitigating, said drug misuse was, “a significant factor” behind the offending, but, while in custody, on remand, Lucas has begun to mature, making progress on courses to help overcome alcohol and drug misuse.

Imposing a three-year sentence in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Simon Hickey also banned Lucas from driving for four-and-a-half years.