A BANNED motorist who crashed into a car carrying a baby during a police chase, was yesterday jailed for 18 months.

Terence Mark Simpson was one of six people injured as a result of the accident he triggered, as he tried to shake-off a pursuing police car.

Durham Crown Court heard that police twice tried to stop him by placing a stinger device on the road. He was driving at speeds of up to 100mph on rural routes, on October 17.

He managed to evade the device on the first occasion, but struck the stinger a second time, near Earls House Hospital, on the A691 Lanchester to Durham road.

His Ford Fiesta's tyres were punctured and it spun out of control into the path of a Vauxhall Corsa heading in the opposite direction.

Richard Cowen, prosecuting, told a previous hearing that the collision resulted in the 21-year-old Corsa driver being badly injured, while two passengers, including a 19-month-old child, escaped serious injury, but were badly shocked.

Three of the occupants of the Fiesta were also treated for minor injuries.

Simpson, 28, of Linum Place, Fenham, Newcastle, admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified at the previous hearing.

Returning yesterday for sentence, the court heard he has previous convictions for dangerous driving and two convictions for driving while disqualified.

Recorder Howard Crowson said the latest offences were too serious to justify anything other than custody.

Simpson was also banned from driving for three years.