A BANNED driver who sparked a high speed police chase before smashing into two police cars was jailed yesterday.

Kristopher Knox, 19, was only caught when he crashed the stolen Vauxhall Corsa into a brick wall.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how he accelerated to about 100mph on the A123, travelling towards Sunderland.

Stuart Graham, prosecuting, said Knox damaged the police cars as they tried to stop him driving out of a dead-end street in the city, before hitting a brick wall.

Knox, of Hylton Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, failing to stop, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and failing to provide a breath specimen.

Judge David Hodson sentenced Knox to eight months in a young offenders' institute.