A PROMISING young sportsman is behind bars for what a judge branded “horrendously bad driving” while being pursued by police.

Although it was only over five minutes, Charlie Simpson is said to have endangered the lives of himself, his two passengers, other road users and pedestrians while at the wheel of a hire car.

Durham Crown Court heard that the former junior world Thai boxing champion came to police attention while driving a Vauxhall Corsa which almost lost control turning from the A689 onto the A167, due to excessive speed, at 4.10am on January 2.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said the police patrol driver illuminated his vehicle’s blue lights indicating for the Corsa to stop, but Simpson sped away at 50-miles per hour in a 30-limit area.

After the officer activated his siren, the Corsa accelerated to 60-mph and took a roundabout the wrong way.

Miss Lamballe said Simpson drove through residential streets of Chilton and, later, Kirk Merrington, dangerously, taking a blind crest of a hill at up to 70-mph while in the wrong carriageway, and flouting ‘Give Way’ signs at junctions.

The pursuit ended “abruptly” with all three occupants abandoning the Corsa.

Only one passenger was apprehended, but Simpson’s documents, including his driving licence bearing his home address, were found in the car.

Police went to Simpson’s home in Spennymoor, at 5am, but he was not present.

He was not located during the next few hours, but handed himself in at a police station at mid-day.

Simpson told police after the chase he had gone to an unknown address where he snorted two lines of cocaine.

The 19-year-old defendant, who turns 20 tomorrow, of Stanhope Close, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared before magistrates, who sent the case to the crown court for sentencing.

Andrew Finlay, mitigating, handed in character testimonials and newspaper cuttings, charting Simpson’s sporting achievements.

He said he was not just of previous good character, but of, “positive good character”, holding down a good cladding job, but also training in his sport and helping to coach younger boxers.

But Judge Christopher Prince said he had to send a deterrent message to other young drivers and imposed an eight-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution, while also banning Simpson from driving for 16 months.