A DRIVER who hit speeds of more than 80mph in a 30mph zone and was then discovered to have drugs at his home has been spared jail.

Jeffrey Robert Atkinson was driving so fast that police struggled to safely keep up with him and he only came to a halt when he crashed into bollards and a road sign.

The 31-year-old sped past police in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, at about 10.20pm on June 26 this year and was also seen driving onto a grassed area, prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court.

He was followed by an officer, but despite him driving at up 80mph Atkinson was still drawing away in his Ford Escort.

The defendant turned onto Trimdon Avenue from Acklam Road and then turned again into Elwick Avenue where he crashed.

Ms Masters said police went to Atkinson’s home address and found a small quantity of bagged cocaine which Atkinson said was for his own use.

He claimed his driving had been careless, rather than dangerous.

Atkinson, of Colliers Green, Middlesbrough, was said to suffer from depression and had sunk into drink and drugs while living on his own.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance, failing to stop, failing to provide a specimen of breath and possession of class A drugs.

Recorder Susan Taylor agreed with a probation report which suggested Atkinson could be given a night time curfew order and spared immediate jail.

She suspended a 15 month jail sentence on him for two years and gave him a 12 week long curfew order. He was also given a three year driving ban.