A DRUG-INDUCED decision to go on an early hours’ fishing trip ended with the would-be angler behind bars.

Unlicensed Crake Fishwick was driving a Peugeot 206 which was seen passing through traffic lights in Peterlee, at 1.45am on July 14.

Durham Crown Court heard a police traffic officer followed and illuminated her car’s siren and blue lights.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said the Peugeot almost came to a halt, but when the police vehicle approached, Fishwick accelerated along Grampian Way.

Mr Harley said the Peugeot reached 60-miles per hour, double the limit in the residential streets.

It lost control at a t-junction, crossed some grass and struck a parked Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Octavia, which in turn shunted into a BMW car, damaging all three, with one written-off.

Although Fishwick tried to run off, he was chased and caught by the officer.

He initially claimed he was not the driver, but soon confessed and admitted he had taken drugs within the previous 90-minutes.

Fishwick said he bought the car for £350, days earlier.

Tests confirmed he was over the prescribed limit for cocaine and two other drugs.

Fishwick, 22, of Emerson Court, Horden, admitted dangerous driving, three counts of driving over the limit for drugs, failing to stop for police and after an accident, no insurance or licence.

Andrew Finlay, mitigating,said his client, “has an issue” with cocaine.

“It interferes with his thought processes, as it did when he decided to go fishing at 1.45am.”

Judge Christopher Prince said he had to send a message to drivers that ignoring requests to stop would land them behind bars.

He imposed a ten-month prison sentence for dangerous driving and three-months for the drugs offences, but, due to his young age, the judge agreed to make them concurrent.

Fishwick was also banned from driving for 17 months.