A BANNED teenage driver’s second taste of custody in less than a year has been shortened following intervention of his counsel.

Kyle Wright was arrested after a short foot chase having abandoned a Land Rover he had driven on only three surviving tyres on a public walkway, at the end of a police chase, on April 11.

Durham Crown Court heard police attention was drawn to him as he was not wearing a seat belt.

Wright, 19, of South Street, Spennymoor, was said to have 49 previous offences including aggravated vehicle taking, in May last year, for which he was given a 12-month custodial sentence.

Arising from the latest incident he admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, no insurance and failing to wear a seat belt.

Judge Carroll imposed a 16-month custodial sentence, including two months for driving while disqualified, and banned Wright from driving for a further two years and eight months.

Three weeks after the sentencing hearing the case came back before the court as Wright’s representative, Ian West, said the two-month consecutive sentence for driving disqualified should be served alongside the 14 months for dangerous driving, rather than in addition to it, as it was all part and parcel of the same offence.

Judge Carroll agreed and reduced Wright’s sentence to 14 months.