AN uninsured motorist threw pursuing police off the scent by escaping through a sewer.

To elude officers chasing him after abandoning the crashed car he had been illegally driving in his home town of Seaham, County Durham, David Slater used an underground pipe in a move similar to one dramatically featured in the blockbuster movie The Shawshank Redemption.

While in the film character Andy Dufresne gains his freedom from prison after crawling through a sewer, the escape bid has led to Slater finding himself behind bars.

Durham Crown Court heard he failed to stop for police in an Audi A6 at 3.15pm on April 4 and a chase followed along Victoria Street, Queen Street, Queen Alexandra Road and New Strangford Road.

But, it ended after the car collided with an oncoming car, shunting both vehicles sideways.

Slater fled on foot, leaving his abandoned Audi, and making good his escape through a sewer pipe. The distance Slater moved through the sewer remains unclear. It was a week later before police traced him and he was arrested.

He was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance and driving other than in accordance with the licence.

Appearing at a plea hearing at the court, the 25-year-old, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, admitted all four charges put to him.

Neil Bennett, representing the defendant, told the court: “He’s 25 and has no convictions since 2010, and certainly no relevant convictions in the way of similar offences.

“But, we are aware that this was a police chase and he failed to stop after a collision, although, thankfully, there were no injuries sustained.”

Mr Bennett said, given Slater's lack of motoring offences, it may be that a suspended sentence could be imposed.

He said: “He’s a man who’s had some depressive symptoms and a report could explore whether some requirements working with the Probation Service could be added to a suspended sentence.”

Judge Christopher Prince said he did not believe a background report would help.

Mr Bennett told the court Slater had bought the car and had received some bad news about a relative’s health shortly before the incident.

He added Slater did not stop for police because he knew he was not insured to drive.

Remanding him in custody, pending sentence, next month, Judge Prince told Slater: “It has been reported many times that in this court local defendants who fail to stop for police go to prison.

“It’s very simple. You didn’t stop, you are going to go to prison.”

Slater will learn his fate at a sentencing hearing at the court, on Friday June 2.