A MAN has been jailed for four months for drug and driving offences only three weeks after being banned.

Neil Chapman, 29, of Roker Terrace, Stockton, pleaded guilty to possession of Ecstasy, driving without insurance, dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

Darlington Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Chapman had been randomly searched as he went into the Mardi Gras nightclub, in Darlington, on October 25 last year.

Door staff found one Ecstasy tablet and when the police were called Chapman told them he had two other tablets.

The court also heard that on Christmas Eve, police followed a car as it was driven at speed through Darlington.

The driver ignored police sirens and only stopped when the car became bogged down in a field in the Lascelles area.

The driver, who was later identified as Chapman, and a male passenger, ran from the car, but when traced and questioned he admitted what he had done.

The court heard that Chapman had been banned from driving for two years only three weeks before the incident.

Stephen Andrews, defending, said the drugs had been for Chapman's own use and he only took them occasionally instead of alcohol.

Referring to the driving incident he said: "He knows he should not have been behind the wheel of a car.

"He was doing it as a favour for a friend and he knows it was wrong.

"He panicked when he saw the police car and started to drive off, but when he was finally questioned he admitted everything."

Mr Andrews said Chapman was a loner who might be easily led by people in prison.

Chapman was sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to take an extended driving test when his two-year ban ends.