A ROOFER who live-streamed himself on Facebook driving a Mercedes at 111mph has appeared at court.

James Mitchell, who has previously been jailed for aggravated vehicle taking, faced magistrates at Newton Aycliffe after the video was reported to police.

The 25-year-old filmed the footage, which clearly shows the speedometer, on the afternoon of May 5 during lockdown.

John Garside, prosecuting, said Mitchell was interviewed by police and said he 'could not remember' when he recorded footage or the purpose of his journey.

He also told police that he had a newborn baby at home and was making an essential journey for work.

The court heard that Mitchell, of Killinghall Street, Darlington, has previous driving offences on his record from 2008, 2012 and 2014. The most recent attracted a ten-month prison sentence.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to one count of driving without without due care and attention on the A66 in May.

Calum Terry, mitigating, said: "He fully accepts that he was in the wrong. He has a job in Teesside and on the way back home to Darlington he shot the footage. I don’t seek to excuse it but it was in a period of lockdown and my client was a key worker.

"His speed did creep up. He’s the first to accept how stupid he has been. He made a stupid mistake."

Mitchell was fined £143 and ordered to pay £34 court costs and £85 victim surcharge. His licence was also endorsed with five penalty points.