A BANNED driver deliberately reversed into a police vehicle during a chase just ten days after receiving a suspended prison sentence.

Durham Crown Court heard that Shaun Christopher Crowe later admitted having a ten-year-old child on a booster seat in the defective car during the pursuit.

Crowe received an 18-week sentence, suspended for two years, plus a three-month driving ban, on July 2, 2020.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Crowe was driving a Ford Mondeo that came to police attention due to a loose offside wheel, in South Moor, Stanley, at 11.30am on July 12.

As the wheel was shaking from side to side, the officers indicated for Crowe to pull over, but he ignored it, accelerating away on Park Road.

Mr Dryden said the Mondeo was driven at 50-miles per hour in a 30-limit area of South View Gardens, New Kyo, swerving across the road in a dangerous manner.

It then overtook dangerously, at 60-mph on Durham Road and went over a roundabout on Lanchester Road, causing other drivers to brake sharply to avoid a collision.

Mr Dryden said a large cloud of smoke was seen coming from the Mondeo and the officers believed it was axle damage, limiting the car’s ability to exceed 70-mph.

It came to a sudden halt, however, and Crowe, who was recognised by one of the officers in the police vehicle, put the Mondeo into reverse.

The police car was also reversed, but the Mondeo was deliberately reversed into it, in a violent collision, forcing the bonnet to buckle, causing £5,913-worth of damage.

Both the police driver and front seat passenger suffered whiplash-type injuries.

Crowe, who was arrested at 1.30pm, made full admissions, conceding he was recently disqualified, confirming he had a ten-year-old front seat passenger in the car.

The 37-year-old, of Windermere Terrace, Stanley, admitted dangerous driving, while disqualified and without insurance. His record includes 24 previous similar offences.

Mark Styles, mitigating, said Crowe “completely panicked” seeing police but made full admissions after abandoning the vehicle.

Mr Styles said he has since addressed his substance misuse and is now five-months drug free, while he hopes to find work as a mechanic.

Describing it as “idiotic” driving, Recorder Carl Gumsley imposed a 12-month prison sentence and banned Crowe from the roads for 42 months.