A MAN with a history of motoring offences led police on a dangerous high-speed chase through a town in the early hours of the morning.

Michael Moloney, who was serving a motoring ban at the time, was over the drink-drive limit when police came across him at the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf, taking a roundabout in the wrong direction, on St Cuthbert’s Way, in Newton Aycliffe, at 2.50am on Saturday, August 26.

Durham Crown Court heard that a police vehicle illuminated its blue lights, but Moloney failed to stop.

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said: “The inevitable pursuit began, with the defendant reaching speeds of 60-miles per hour on 30-limit zones.”

Moloney turned off his lights and carried on driving in an “erratic” manner.

Mr Faulks said he accelerated to 90-mph on a 40-limit road, before the ten-minute chase came to an end.

He failed to negotiate a left turn at a junction with St Cuthbert’s Way, skidded across the carriageway, mounting a grass verge, before coming to a halt with the Golf wedged between two trees.

Moloney, the sole occupant, was able to get out and ran through some bushes, but was detained as he attempted to climb a high fence.

Mr Faulks said his only response on arrest was: “I’m sorry.”

Moloney gave a roadside breathalyser reading of 56mg of alcohol, compared to the legal limit of 35mg, and later, at a police station, recorded 40mg in a formal breath test.

Mr Faulks told the court the defendant has, “many and varied” motoring offences, dating from 2002, including several for vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.

His most recent, for which he was serving a three-year ban, was imposed in 2015 for driving with excess alcohol.

Twenty-nine-year-old Moloney, of North End, Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and driving with excess alcohol.

Victoria Lamballe, in mitigation, highlighted the contents of reports prepared for the court and two character testimonials, which she said portrayed a different side to the defendant’s character.

“It’s accepted this was a bad, but relatively short-lived piece of driving, after he took the stupid decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol," said Ms Lamballe.

“He, clearly, has an unenviable record for driving offences, but has demonstrated a degree of insight into his offending, which is often unusual in cases of this type.

“He’s an intelligent, articulate young man, capable of hard work.”

But she said it was his unresolved mental health issues which were behind his offending.

She said he tried dealing with those problems by “self-medicating on drink and drugs,” but has now approached his GP and is seeking help through the correct mental health channels.

Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC told Moloney he has, “a sorry record”, but acknowledged he has problems which he appears to be finally trying to address in the correct manner.

He passed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, during which he must undergo probation supervised activities.

Moloney must also observe a three-month 7pm to 5am home curfew, and was banned from driving for a further three years.