A YOUNG motorist was jailed for driving the wrong way on a stretch of the A1(M) in a courtesy car as he was being chased by police.

Kaylon Jackson was only stopped after one of the three pursuing police drivers used his car in a tactical “contact” manoeuvre to usher him into the central reservation.

Durham Crown Court was told police attention was initially drawn to Jackson as there was a defective rear light on the Kia Picanto he was driving on Adelaide Bank, Shildon, at 10.20pm, on Saturday September 18.

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Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, said the blue lights were activated on the police vehicle but Jackson did not stop, albeit initially carrying on, driving relatively slowly.

But he did pick up speed approaching Middridge village, travelling at 50-miles per hour on a 30-limit road.

Having passed by Newton Aycliffe, Jackson turned onto the southbound carriageway of the A1(M), now pursued by three police vehicles.

Miss McGurk said at one staged Jackson, “slammed his brakes on”, made a turn to the right and headed back northwards against the traffic.

Due to the obvious risk issues, the police in pursuit took the decision for one of the force vehicles to make contact with the Kia and push it into the central reservation.

When arrested and interviewed Jackson said when he saw the blue light of the first police vehicle he, “panicked”.

He was driving the Kia as a courtesy car as his own vehicle was being repaired at the time.

The 23-year-old defendant, of Oakfield, Newton Aycliffe, admitted dangerous driving.

Miss McGurk said Jackson has previous convictions for two counts of drug driving, for which he received a 12-month disqualification, when aged 20, and for resisting/obstructing police as well as failing to stop, in July last year, for which he was fined and received five penalty points on his licence.

Helen Towers, representing Jackson, said it was classed as a, “low risk” pursuit until the defendant, “made his most dangerous manoeuvre”, turning and driving the wrong way on the A1(M).

“He accepts full responsibility for his actions and has shown a high-level of remorse, questioning his actions that night and he needs to tackle his thinking skills in times of crisis.”

Miss Towers said her client has “a stable income” as an employee of a window blind company, and, “in most areas of his life is hard-working”, while not having a, “significant record.”

But her call for a suspended sentence to be passed fell on deaf ears as Judge Ray Singh said, given the “potential consequences” of his driving that night, turning and driving in the direction of oncoming traffic on the A1(M), it was too serious to avoid an immediate jail term.

He imposed an eight-month prison sentence and banned Jackson from driving for two years and four months.

Jackson must also pass an extended test to drive lawfully in future once the ban expires.

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