A MAN has been jailed after he led police on a high-speed pursuit from Darlington to Stockton before colliding with two other vehicles and attempting to flee the scene.

Mariusz Babut was driving a VW Passat on February 19 this year when he caught the attention of officers by potentially driving on false plates.

Officers intercepted the vehicle on the A1(M) near Darlington but Babut refused to stop.

Instead, he led officers on a high-speed pursuit, reaching speeds of up to 130mph on a dual carriageway and 80mph in a 30mph zone.

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Turning into a residential street in Stockton, he struck a VW Beetle and a van before fleeing the scene and attempting to hide in a nearby garden.

The 44-year-old was found by officers and taken into police custody.

In the boot of his car was 8kg of vacuum-packed cannabis, worth around £80,000.

Officers also found around £5,000 in cash stored at his home, which has since been seized under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Babut, of Cecil Road, Birmingham, was convicted of dangerous driving and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply following an investigation by Darlington CID.

He appeared at Teesside Crown Court last week where he was jailed for 32 months.

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