AN uninsured motorist who was valeting a friend’s car panicked when a police patrol officer spotted him at the wheel of the vehicle.

Tyla Jay Jackson was said to be merely moving the car from outside the front of his house, to the back, where he had his cleaning equipment, when he was seen briefly driving the Jaguar X-Type.

Durham Crown Court heard the patrol officer put on his blue flashing lights and Jackson sped off, through nearby streets in Murton, at 2.15pm on August 9.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said during the short pursuit all the Jaguar’s wheels left the ground at one stage and a passing car had to take evasive action.

Jackson abandoned to car approaching a dead end and ran into a house, followed by the officer, who found him hiding in a bathroom.

When he was interviewed, he made admissions, conceding he panicked on seeing the police vehicle as he was uninsured.

Jackson, 23, of Warnebrook Avenue, Murton, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and no insurance.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said he has no similar offending on his record and he was only briefly driving the car to take it to the back of his home to valet it, on behalf of his friend.

A probation report read to the court confirmed Jackson panicked, “turning what was a relatively minor offence into a more serious offence,” due to his response seeing police.

The court heard he has mental health issues, which he is trying to address, working with a community psychiatric team.

Deputy circuit Judge James Spencer QC said due to the “spontaneous” and “short-lived” nature of the driving he could pass a 12-month community order to include 20 rehabilitation activity days working with the Probation Service.

Jackson was also given a 12-month driving ban and must pay an £85 court surcharge.