A father with an "addiction to driving" has been jailed after clocking up his 27th conviction for taking to the roads when disqualified.

Police officers from two forces were called in when Robert Ainsley, 35, sparked a 120mph police chase along a busy motorway.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Ainsley was spotted driving a motorbike without a tax disc by police on patrol, during rush-hour in White Mare Pool, South Tyneside, on March 19.

And after officers gave chase, the father-of-two headed towards the busy A194M and on to the A1M.

Prosecutor John Temple told the court how Northumbria Police contacted the Durham Constabulary in an attempt to catch up with him.

He said: "He continued along the A194M and accelerated to 120mph, he was followed by police along the southbound carriageway.

"At that time, as can be expected, it was busy and heavy with traffic.

"He approached the A1M junction at 100mph, and once on the A1M he was seen to over-take vehicles on the hard shoulder to make progress.

"Other road users were seen to swerve and brake."

Durham Police patrol were called in as he approached the Chester-le-Street junction, Ainsley managed to slip away from the officers but then crashed into a Nissan Micra.

He was knocked to the ground after the smash and was arrested at the scene.

Defence barrister Andrew Walker said: "He has what he described as 'an addiction to driving', not illegal driving, but the mechanics and engines of motorcycles and cars.

"He cannot keep his hands of a motor car when disqualified from driving."

Ainsley, of Larne Crescent, Gateshead, was already serving a five-month sentence for driving while disqualified when he appeared in court yesterday. He was jailed for another six months after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Judge William Crawford said: "The risk of injuring someone else, which I seek to prevent, was very high.

"And at speeds like this, of 120mph, if you had collided with someone else you would have killed them."