A TURBO-CHARGED car modified for high performance was involved in a short-lived, but dangerous pursuit, a court heard.

Police officers in an unmarked force car spotted uninsured driver Mark Wallace on his mobile phone at the wheel of a SEAT Leon in North Road, Seaham, shortly after noon on February 8.

They turned round and followed the Leon southwards, towards the town centre.

Durham Crown Court was told Wallace suddenly speeded up and overtook vehicles, crossing into the opposite carriageway, and so the officers illuminated blue flashing lights and activated the police vehicle sirens.

Umza Khan, prosecuting, said, travelling at up to 60-mph in a 30-limit area, Wallace went over speed bumps and turned right on the wrong side of a mini-roundabout, onto Railway Street, as he struggled to maintain control of the Leon.

He went through red lights at Blandford Square and, trying to turn left onto Tempest Road, swerved and collided with a traffic island.

It caused damage to a wheel of the car and so he and two passengers abandoned it and tried to flee on foot.

Miss Khan said Wallace was arrested and said: “I’m sorry, I’ve got no insurance.”

The court heard he has 12 convictions for 21 offences, mostly traffic violations, including two previous cases of dangerous driving.

Wallace, 28, of Quarry Road, Sunderland, admitted dangerous driving, no insurance and using a mobile phone while driving.

Joe Hedworth, mitigating, said the defendant “takes great shame” at his actions that day.

He said Wallace should know of the dangers of cars, having suffered serious physical injuries and knock-on mental health issues after a serious incident in which he was run over, in 2013.

Mr Hedworth said Wallace lost his store job several months ago and the car was bought by his uncle so the defendant could transport him around.

Although Wallace had passed an extended driving re-test, he was without insurance and so “panicked”, realising he was being followed by police.

He must now reimburse his uncle £2,000 for the car.

Recorder Eric Elliott QC said given his history on the roads, Wallace should have been “alive to the dangers” of driving at such speeds in a high-powered car.

“This can only be described as an horrific piece of driving in built-up areas and it was only fortunate for you that you did not cause a serious accident.”

Jailing him for nine months, Recorder Elliott also banned Wallace from driving for 18 months.