A DRINK-DRIVER led police on terrifying chase in which he raced through five red lights and almost collided with another car and a pedestrian.

Adam Trainor also drove straight at a police officer and swerved at the last moment as he desperately tried to evade capture, a court heard yesterday.

Trainor was only stopped after a helicopter and more patrol cars were brought into the pursuit and a Stinger device was used to puncture his tyres.

Details of the 20-year-old's late-night madness were revealed when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced.

Video footage of the end of the 20-minute pursuit in Hartlepool was shown to Judge Peter Bowers, who described Trainor's driving as "appalling".

He said: "It was quite frightening and could have resulted in one of those officers being seriously injured. You were very determined not to stop."

The drama started just before midnight on January 19 when Trainor's Vauxhall Corsa was pulled over by police but he accelerated away.

The 60mph pursuit went along the main roads and residential streets - all covered by 30mph limits - and ended on the A689, near Truro Drive.

Sharon Elves, prosecuting, said the Stinger was used, but Trainor still tried to flee and was only stopped when his car was surrounded by police vehicles.

Trainor, of Northgate, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and with excess alcohol - almost twice the limit.

He also admitted an offence of causing grievous bodily harm on Christmas Eve after an incident at his grandmother's home in east Cleveland.

Trainor had been called there by his father to help get rid of three unwanted guests who had helped themselves to the householder's wine and turkey.

The court heard he "went too far" in ejecting John Fixter, who suffered a fractured eye socket and fractured cheekbone in the altercation.

Judge Bowers banned Trainor from driving for two years, but deferred sentence for six months after hearing the new father was sorting out his life.

The judge told Trainor he would be spared prison if he showed continued improvement, but warned he would be jailed for 18 months if he failed.

"I think the assaults need putting into context," said the judge. "The injuries are pretty severe but it is quite obvious that these three - the man and two women - were behaving in a disgusting and drunken way.

"They can be described as the gatecrashers from hell and you were clearly very sorely provoked, and your father was at his wits' end trying to get rid of them."