A DISQUALIFIED driver who flipped his car with a four-year old-boy in the back during a 100mph police chase has been jailed for a year.

Judge Robert Adams told 23-year-old Scott Smith it was ‘a miracle no-one was killed’ when he tried to shake off pursuing officers by hurtling through streets and country roads of County Durham.

The stomach-churning chase ended with the MG ZT somersaulting over a hedge coming to rest in a field.

Terrifying video taken from the police car's on-board camera was played at Durham Crown Court before Smith was sentenced where it emerged that the boy was wearing an adult's seatbelt and not a child safety seat.

The court heard the boy’s mother who was also in the car begged him to stop his high spped escape bid, saying: "The bairn is in the car", to which he replied: "I know, I'm sorry."

Police received reports of a car being driven erratically in Smith's home town of Stanley at around lunchtime on October 29.

An officer started to follow him and he accelerated, ignoring the blue lights and sirens, before embarking on a reckless attempt to escape which lasted around three minutes and could have ended in carnage.

The police on-board camera showed the patrol car had to reach 97mph to keep up with the MG as it careered through residential streets, in and out of traffic, through the villages of The Middles and Craghead.

Roads were busy with lunchtime traffic, and Smith ignored a red traffic light at road works, mounted the kerb to try to get away.

As the pursuit moved into country lanes, Smith tried desperately to keep ahead of the police car.

But after narrowly passing a van at about 80mph on a country lane, his car failed to steady and Smith was unable to negotiate a T-junction, sending the MG through a hedge and flipping it over.

A source said the police driver was stunned that no-one was badly hurt.

Last month Smith admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and a child cruelty offence relating to exposing the boy to such risk.

Judge Robert Adams told Smith: "You could have killed somebody - it is a miracle you did not."

After releasing the footage last month, Durham Police insisted that the pursuit would have been called off if the officer had known a child was on board.

The judge said the speed of more than 90mph in 30mph zones "grossly" exceeded the limit.

He said: “The vehicle only came to a halt when you lost control, unable to take a left-hand turn as a result of the speed you were travelling at.

“It is a miracle nobody was seriously hurt.”

Smith fractured a vertebra in the crash but walked unaided in and out of court for cigarettes, keeping his face covered by a hoodie.

Joanne Kidd, prosecuting, said: "When the officer approached Mr Smith and arrested him for dangerous driving Mr Smith responded: “It's your fault for putting pressure on me'.

“He was subsequently taken to the police station and when he was cautioned he said 'I will go to jail for this'.”

Tom Finch, mitigating, said Smith, who had been banned from driving in March, made an error of judgment when he set out to the shops and that escalated into the appalling driving shown in court.

He suffers from mental health problems and "is a young man who has limitations", his barrister said.

Smith has never had a job and had dyslexia and dyspraxia, the court heard.

Mr Finch said: "He does not have the malice that other individuals that appear before this court with serious driving offences have."

Judge Adams told Smith: "This is the first time you will lose your liberty. I hope it emphasises the risks you posed to other people."

He jailed him for 12 months and banned him from driving for two years.

After the hearing Sergeant Sam Turner said: "It was a miracle that no-one was injured in that collision, with the vehicle leaving the road at that speed, somersaulting into the field.

"At the time of the police pursuit, the pursuing officer was unaware of the small child in the rear of the vehicle.

“Had the officer been aware, it is very likely the officer would have pulled back and monitored from a safer distance.”