A DISQUALIFIED driver has been jailed after leading police on a dangerous pursuit at nearly three times the legal speed limit.

Connor Riddell, from Sherburn, County Durham, drove the wrong way around a roundabout and reached speeds of 85mph in a 30mph limit in a bid to evade arrest.

The 23-year-old was spotted behind the wheel of a Range Rover heading down the A690, near Sunderland, by officers in November 2020.

But when instructed to pull over, Riddell hit the accelerator – endangering the lives of other road users as he narrowly avoided collision and drove on the wrong side of the road.

Trained motor patrol officers deployed a stinger device which popped Riddell’s tyres and brought his antics to an abrupt stop.

While on bail for that offence, Riddell drove on two further occasions – and officers also discovered a picture that was posted on Facebook showing he and another man posing with a stolen £20,000 Jaguar.

On Monday, Riddell, of Kell Crescent, Sherburn, Durham, pleaded guilty to a string of offences including three counts of dangerous driving, five counts of driving whilst disqualified and handling stolen goods at Newcastle Crown Court.

He was jailed for two years and eight months and banned from the roads for a further four years and four months.

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The manner of his driving was absolutely appalling and his decisions could so easily have resulted in a fatality

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Detective Constable Chris Sengelow, of Northumbria Police, said: “Riddell has shown a total disregard for the law and has proven he cannot be trusted to be behind the wheel of a car.

“I am delighted that the severity of his widespread offending have been reflected in this custodial sentence.

“The manner of his driving was absolutely appalling and his decisions could so easily have resulted in a fatality.

"It is sheer luck that nobody was injured.

“We will continue to do everything we can to ensure anybody who selfishly endangers the lives of others is brought to justice.”

Riddell admitted three counts of dangerous driving, five counts of driving whilst disqualified, handling stolen goods, possession of a Class B drug, driving with specified drug above the limit and taking a conveyance without authority.

He now begins a custodial term.

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