A BANNED driver was jailed after becoming involved in a second high-speed police chase in residential streets in little more than three years.

Despite protests from the dock by defendant Scott Haddock, Judge Christopher Prince said a message had to go out to drivers who ignore police warnings and refuse to stop, that they will receive automatic prison sentences.

Durham Crown Court heard traffic patrol officers saw a black Audi car leaving a filling station at speed on the A167 at Chilton, shortly before 10pm on December 27.

The officer driving turned the patrol vehicle at a roundabout and had to accelerate to almost 80-miles per hour to try to catch the Audi.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said Haddock had to perform an emergency brake to avoid running into the next roundabout, and so the sirens and lights were activated on the police vehicle, but the Audi failed to stop.

Haddock accelerated to almost 60-mph on Cragside, Chilton, before turning onto other residential streets in the town.

Mr Harley said the Audi went through a set of S-bends at 44-mph, before crashing near a junction.

Haddock abandoned the car and ran off to the rear of some houses where he failed to jump over a garden fence and surrendered to custody, putting his hands in the air.

He made no comment to police, but admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and no insurance at his first court appearance.

The court was told the Audi was loaned by a friend.

Haddock has 11 convictions for 22 offences, including a previous dangerous driving incident in a built-up area, for which he received a six-month prison sentence.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said his previous spell behind bars had, “a marked effect” on the defendant, and he has had assistance by way of home visits by a mental health team.

But, this ended when he moved to County Durham, and his support only resumed in December.

She urged Judge Prince to take an exceptional course, to enable Haddock to receive support in the community.

But the judge said Haddock chose to drive again when not permitted, knowing the consequences after his previous jail sentence, and then chose not to stop for police.

Imposing a 14-month sentence he also banned Haddock from driving for 19 months.