A BANNED driver did not wait to speak to a traffic officer who summoned him to pull over in what he said was his brother’s car, a court heard.

The officer spotted Lee Yeoman trying to apply his seat belt at the wheel of a Peugeot 206 in Front Street, Sherburn Hill, at 8.45pm on July 6.

Durham Crown Court was told the officer signalled to him to pull over to the roadside, but as he got out of the patrol car, Yeoman pulled away at speed in the Peugeot.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said it marked the start of a 4.9-mile pursuit, during which the Peugeot travelled at more than 70-mph in residential streets with a 40-limit and at 90 in 60-limit areas.

Mr Walker said Yeoman overtook a lorry on a blind bend and the manner of his driving was “so abhorrent”, passing through Bowburn, that the pursuing officer was about to abort the chase.

But, the Peugeot was then driven into a wooded area, where the driver and passenger “decamped”.

Both were arrested and Yeoman admitted driving, despite being banned.

The defendant, 28, of Sycamore Gardens, Willington, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Jamie Adams, mitigating, said: “Fortunately, there were no injuries, no vehicles or property were damaged and he did not give the officers any ‘gip’ when arrested.”

Mr Adams said Yeoman has been in custody for seven months, as he was charged with unrelated offences, for which he has now been acquitted.

Recorder Euan Duff told Yeoman: “You have an appalling driving record, on this occasion driving when you shouldn’t have been, and you said you got the car from your brother shortly beforehand.

“You could have killed yourself or whoever was with you in the car, but, happily, no accident took place and no-one was injured.”

Yeoman was given a 14-month prison sentence and was banned from driving for a further three years.