A BANNED motorist fled from police after escaping through the open window of a patrol car.

Gary David Stanners, 20, was at the wheel of a Nissan Sunny which was stopped by police on the A690 Durham to Sunderland dual carriageway at Houghton-le-Spring, in September.

Durham Crown Court was told he gave a name to officers and was arrested and placed in the rear of the police vehicle.

Euan Duff, prosecuting, said that while the officers ran a check on the name given by Stanners, he gave them the slip by climbing out of the window of the police car and running in the direction of Sunderland.

The police helicopter was called out to help pursue Stanners, who was seen running along the grass verge of the A690.

He was eventually arrested by a police dog handler with the aid of his German shepherd dog.

Stanners, who was banned from motoring for two years in June 2001 for also driving while disqualified, said he was trying out his girlfriend's car at the time.

He said he made off because he was frightened he would be locked up because he was disqualified, and would therefore be unable to see his young son.

Stanners, of South View, South Hylton, Sunderland, admitted driving while disqualified and escaped being sent to prison at an earlier hearing.

Brian Russell, mitigating, said it was not a deliberate act to avoid justice.

He said: "It was a stupid act and the police were put to a great deal of trouble in apprehending him."

He added: "When he was made aware the police dog was there, he gave up without any trouble."

Stanners was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order, to be assisted by the probation service, and was banned from driving for a further 12 months.

Judge Tim Hewitt said he was treating it as "an impulsive act of stupidity" rather than anything worse.