A banned dangerous driver who took police on a 20-minute-long high-speed chase around the streets of a North East town has been locked up after almost crashing into an ambulance.

Daryn Hunter jumped in his car and sped off when he spotted a police car approaching him while he was parked up in Stockton.

The 26-year-old hit speeds in excess of 90mph as he attempted to shake off the attention of the police after they activated their blue lights.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Hunter forced an ambulance to take evasive action; almost collided with a parked taxi; sped through red lights, drove over grass verges; and drove at excessive speed.

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The judge heard how the defendant reached speeds in excess of 50mph in 20mph and his driving was so dangerous that the pursuing police slowed down in their chase of the fleeing suspect to avert potential collisions.

The chase only came to an end when Hunter pulled over on New Earswick Street, in Stockton, and tried to run away from the pursuing officers.

When police caught up with him he continued to cause problems for officers until he was fully restrained and arrested.

The judge heard how officers found a large kitchen knife tucked inside his trouser waistband and a roadside test showed that he was driving under the influence of cannabis and cocaine when he was arrested on May 5 last year.

The Northern Echo: Daryn HunterDaryn Hunter (Image: Cleveland Police)

Hunter, of Radnor Close, Stockton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, possession of a bladed article, two charges of drug driving, and driving with no insurance.

Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client ‘wasn’t sure why he had the knife at the time’ but accepted that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the offending.

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Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Hunter to a total of two years for all offences.

“For about 20 minutes you drove very dangerously. It was too fast and caused a great deal of risk, fortunately no-one was harmed - that was only luck and nothing to do with your abilities as a driver,” he said.

“It was a difficult arrest, police had to use incapacitating methods to try to subdue you and then they found a knife in your waistband.”

Hunter was also banned from driving three years with a one-year extension to cover his time in custody.