A MOTORIST who crashed on a country road after losing control of his car has been banned from driving.

Adam Simpson was driving at speeds of up to 90mph as he left Northallerton to head home at 11.30pm on April 28.

The 30-year-old was spotted by police as he headed towards the village of Yafforth but when they tried to pull him over they were unable to get close enough to him, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The pursuing officers had to back off as they were not trained to drive the police vehicle at such high speeds.

However, the officers spotted the car in a ditch after Simpson lost control on a sweeping left hand bend before hitting a tree.

The court heard how the defendant had left the scene by the time the officers arrived but called the police the following morning to confess.

An investigation of his vehicle showed that one of his tyres was well under the legal limit with the metal wires showing through.

Judge Jonathon Carroll said: "For reasons that I don't understand, on that evening you were completely unaware of the police following you.

"You weren't driving at speed to get away from the police because you didn't even know they were there.

"When you left Northallerton towards Yafforth, the police could not keep up with you driving at 90mph."

Simpson, of Iddison Drive, Bedale, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with a dangerous tyre.

He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. He was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.