AN unlicensed motorist took a friend’s car for a late night drive which ended in a police chase on a stretch of the A1 undergoing roadworks, a court heard.

John Paul Whelan took the Seat Ibiza, without permission, after the friend he was visiting, in Murton, County Durham, fell asleep on the evening of September 18.

Durham Crown Court heard that the Ibiza was spotted driving at speed on the A1 at Dishforth, North Yorkshire, at 12.30am.

Whelan ignored a police traffic officer’s signal to stop.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said the Ibiza sped off down a section undergoing roadworks and subject to maximum 50-miles per hour speed restrictions, at one stage reaching 125-mph.

Whelan turned off the A1, heading up a slip road at high speed, crossing straight over the roundabout at the top, through a set of chevron signs., before emerging back onto the road, risking potential collision.

It finally came to rest after hitting a lamppost, and Whelan was arrested, while a quantity of the class C drug diazepam was recovered from the car.

The 37-year-old defendant, of Ashton Street, Easington Colliery, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, and two counts of driving without a licence and insurance.

Mr Harley told the court Whelan’s criminal record features 38 convictions for 112 offences, including many motoring misdemeanours.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said the defendant was, “frank with police, admitting everything, from the outset”.

But, Recorder William Lowe QC, said in the circumstances of the incident, he had little alternative.

Miss Waugh said amid difficult personal circumstances, Whelan turned to drugs and felt his life was, “spiralling downwards”, at the time.

Jailing him for a year, and imposing a two-and-a-half year driving ban, Recorder Lowe said Whelan drove in, “a truly appalling manner”, possibly fearing he may have had drugs in his system.