A YOUNG unqualified motorist’s past clean record was not enough to prevent him receiving a custodial sentence for, “a disgraceful example of dangerous driving.”

Jack Bunker, who had been drinking vodka, led police on a five-minute high-speed pursuit, while at the wheel of a friend’s car, taking a female passenger home at night.

Durham Crown Court heard that for the latter half of the chase he drove the Vauxhall Astra on only three tyres, and a wheel rim.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said, taking a roundabout in the wrong direction, Bunker clipped a kerb and the front nearside tyre blew, gradually shredding off the rim as he hurtled along, with sparks literally flying.

Mr Harley said the Astra eventually came to a halt on North Road, Hetton-le-Hole, and he was arrested along with his passenger.

Bunker gave a breath test reading of 57mg of alcohol, 22mg above the legal limit.

He told police due to the alcohol in his system, plus the fact he was an uninsured provisional licence holder, he “panicked” seeing the police.

Mr Harley said the Astra came to police attention in Church Street, Murton, at 10.07pm on January 26 as it had no front bumper.

The officer followed, putting on his blue lights and siren, but Bunker accelerated, to up to 75-miles per hour in a 30-limit road, overtaking blindly at times, forcing oncoming drivers to take evasive action, flouting red lights and taking roundabouts in the wrong direction.

Bunker, of Thirlmere Avenue, Easington Lane, admitted dangerous driving, excess alcohol, driving other than in accordance with the licence and no insurance.

Liam O’Brien, mitigating, said Bunker, who has no previous convictions, had celebrated his 20th birthday only the previous week and his behaviour that night was, “totally out of character”.

He urged Judge Jonathan Carroll to punish the defendant in the community rather than with custody.

But, after deliberating over the lunch-time adjournment, Judge Carroll said he could not avoid an immediate sentence given the risk he posed to other road users.

“It was one of the most disgraceful examples of dangerous driving that I have encountered.”

He passed a 13-month sentence in a young offenders’ institution and banned Bunker from driving for two years.