A DRUNKEN hit-and-run motorist was jailed after a court heard he was on a suspended prison sentence and it was his second drink-driving offence.

Jake Lambert collided with a taxi when he went through a red light in Middlesbrough town centre at 3am on August 7, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 22-year-old factory worker was in his girlfriend’s BMW but was not insured for it, and he fled after hitting a Skoda taxi, leaving the driver hurt.

Police were alerted to the accident and tried to stop Lambert on Marton Road, but he refused to pull over and sped off at up to 70mph in the 30mph zone.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told the court that a second patrol car joined the early-morning pursuit, but had to swerve to avoid being hit by the BMW.

Lambert – fined and banned for driving with excess alcohol two tears ago – went through more red lights, before finally stopping on the Easterside estate.

When he was breathalysed at a police station, the reading was 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the limit is 35.

Defence lawyer Scott Taylor urged the judge, Recorder Ben Nolan, QC, not to jail Lambert so he could continue to work at the food factory and be with his family.

Lambert, of McReaton Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, admitted dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and having no insurance.

He was jailed for eight months and had six months of a suspended sentence from last year activated, which was for drugs and offensive weapon offences.